bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and molecular characterization of the second Chlamydomonas gun4 mutant, gun4-II
Authors: Grovenstein Phillip B , Wilson Darryel A , Lankford Kathryn D , Gaston Kelsey A , Perera Surangi , Mitra Mautusi
Published: July 2013

The green micro-algaChlamydomonasreinhardtiiis an elegant model organism to study oxygenic photosynthesis. Chlorophyll (Chl) and heme are major tetrapyrroles that play an essential role in photosynthesis and respiration. These tetrapyrroles are synthesized via a common branched pathway that involves mainly enzymes, encoded by nuclear genes. One of the enzymes in the pathway is Mg chelatase (MgChel). MgChel catalyzes insertion of Mg2+into protoporphyrin IX (PPIX, proto) to form Magnesium-protoporphyrin IX (MgPPIX, Mgproto), the first biosynthetic intermediate in the Chl branch. The GUN4 (genomes uncoupled 4) protein is not essential for the MgChel activity but has been shown to significantly stimulate its activity. We have isolated a light sensitive mutant,6F14,by random DNA insertional mutagenesis.6F14cannot tolerate light intensities higher than 90-100 μmol photons m-2s-1. It shows a light intensity dependent progressive photo-bleaching.6F14is incapable of photo-autotrophic growth under light intensity higher than 100 μmol photons m-2s-1. PCR based analyses show that in6F14the insertion of the plasmid outside theGUN4locus has resulted in a genetic rearrangement of theGUN4gene and possible deletions in the genomic region flanking theGUN4gene. Ourgun4mutant has a Chl content very similar to that in the wild type in the dark and is very sensitive to fluctuations in the light intensity in the environment unlike the earlier identifiedChlamydomonas gun4mutant. Complementation with a functional copy of theGUN4gene restored light tolerance, Chl biosynthesis and photo-autotrophic growth under high light intensities in6F14.6F14is the secondgun4mutant to be identified inC. reinhardtii. Additionally, we show that our twogun4complements over-express the GUN4 protein and show a higher Chl content per cell compared to that in the wild type strain.
Psychophysiological concepts of stress induced cardiomyopathy with broken heart syndrome as a paradigm
Authors: Koch Horst J.
Published: July 2013

Psychiatric disease, particularly depression and stress disorders, worsen the outcome of cardi-ovascular disease substantially. Although this mind-heart interaction is known since the 1930s, many questions with regard to the underlying pathophysiology remain to be answered. Apart from psychological stress and psychiatric disease, inflammatory or psychoimmunology processes, metabolic or endocrinological mechanisms may be involved as are lifestyle and effects of drug treatment. The takotsubo or broken heart cardiomyopathy, which can be regu-larly referred to stressful event, may serve as paradigm to understand pathological base of the mind-heart relation. Further research is essential with regard to pathophysiology and pathopsychology, but it is our duty to struggle for care in everyday practice.
What links schizophrenia and dreaming? Common phenomenological and neurobiological features of schizophrenia and REM sleep.
Authors: Skrzypińska Dagna , Szmigielska Barbara
Published: July 2013

Aim. The aim of this theoretical study is to present common phenomenological and neurobiological features of schizophrenia and REM sleep.
Results. A review of professional literature was conducted in order to synthesize current findings about associations between schizophrenia and REM sleep. Many researches reveal that both states share some common phenomenological and neurobiological features. Autism, lack of insight and a loss of autonomy in relation to mental content are just some of the characteristics that occur on a phenomenological level in both dreams during REM sleep (lucid dreaming excluded) and schizophrenia. Data from experimental conditions revealed that the waking mentation of patients suffering from schizophrenia has a similar degree of formal cognitive bizarreness as dream narratives obtained from both non-clinical and clinical populations. On the other hand, some common neurobiological features of the REM sleep stage and schizophrenia are: lack of central inhibitory processes, intracerebral disconnections, dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or nucleus accumbens and disturbed responsiveness. Moreover, there is similar activation of dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, serotonin and glutamate in both states.
Conclusions. Common phenomenological and neurobiological characteristics of these two states suggest that data about REM sleep could help introduce a useful experimental model of schizophrenia.
El distanciamiento del emisor frente a su propio mensaje
Authors: Komorowska Agata
Published: July 2013

Speaker’s Distance Towards his own Enunciation
This paper approaches linguistic methods either grammatical or lexical, used by Spanish speaking participants of a communication act to express distance to their own enunciation
Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China: Symbol or Substance?
Authors: Marquis Christopher , Qian Cuili
Published: July 2013

This study focuses on how and why firms strategically respond to government signals on appropriate corporate activity. We integrate institutional theory with research on corporate political strategy to develop a political dependence model that explains (a) how different types of dependency on the government lead firms to issue corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and (b) how the risk of governmental monitoring affects the extent to which CSR reports are symbolic or substantive. First, we examine how firm characteristics reflecting dependence on the government—including private versus state ownership, executives serving on political councils, political legacy, and financial resources—affect the likelihood of firms issuing CSR reports. Second, we focus on the symbolic nature of CSR reporting and how variance in the risk of government monitoring through channels such as bureaucratic embeddedness and regional government institutional development influences the extent to which CSR communications are symbolically decoupled from substantive CSR activities. Our database includes all CSR reports issued by the approximately 1,600 publicly listed Chinese firms between 2006 and 2009. Our hypotheses are generally supported. The political perspective we develop contributes to organizational theory by showing that (a) government signaling is an important mechanism of political influence, (b) different types of dependency on the government expose firms to different types of legitimacy pressure, and (c) firms face a decoupling risk that makes them more likely to enact substantive CSR actions in situations in which they are likely to be monitored.
Group Polarization in Board Decisions About CEO Compensation
Authors: Zhu David H.
Published: July 2013

This study examines how chief executive officer (CEO) compensation decisions may be influenced by a major group decision-making tendency referred to as group polarization among outside directors. I start by explaining why outside directors on average tend to support relatively high (low) CEO compensation when they previously witnessed relatively high (low) CEO compensation across different boards. Group polarization theory then suggests that when outside directors on average tend to support relatively high (low) CEO compensation prior to board discussions, they will support even higher (lower) focal CEO compensation after the discussions. In addition, this study proposes three important moderators of the group polarization effect. Specifically, (1) demographic homogeneity among outside directors and (2) the similarity of the minority’s prior decision context are proposed to weaken the group polarization effect, whereas (3) outside directors’ power relative to inside directors is predicted to strengthen it. Longitudinal analyses (1995–2006) of Fortune 500 CEOs’ compensation provide support for these theoretical predictions. This study contributes to corporate governance research on CEO compensation by advancing a novel group decision-making approach to examining this important decision.
Blogging on the ice: Connecting audiences with climate-change sciences
Authors: Thorsen Einar
Published: July 2013

Scientists working in Antarctica have recognized the need to counteract problems associated with mainstream media’s treatment of the climate-change crisis. For this reason, several of them have assumed the role of citizen journalists in order to report on the effects of global warming first-hand. More specifically, they have chosen to communicate directly with the general public through official or personal blogs. In so doing they are capitalizing on the way the Internet is changing science news and journalism. This article draws on an analysis of more than 50 Antarctic blogs published during the International Polar Year (2007–08), as well as data from e-interviews with a broad selection of bloggers, in order to examine how scientists ‘on the ice’ act as citizen journalists. The article explores the idea of citizen journalism as education and the extent to which the scientists achieve an unmediated form of communication through their blogging efforts. It concludes by suggesting this new form of citizen journalism, beyond raising people’s awareness of the climate-change crisis, also signals an important way in which mainstream environmental reporting can be reinvigorated.
Relating Rice Grain Quality to Conditions during Sun Drying
Authors: Meas Pyseth , Paterson Anthony Henry John , Cleland Donald J. , Bronlund John E. , Mawson John , Hardacre Allan , Rickman Joseph Frederick
Published: July 2013

Rice grain conditions within the sun-drying bed predicted by a mathematical model during drying were used to relate drying parameters to the head rice yield (HRY) which is the key rice quality metric. A number of parameters were derived to characterise the mechanisms of grain fissures and breakage postulated in the literature, and the model was used to estimate these parameters. These parameters were then regressed against the HRY experimental data to determine the contributing mechanisms. An increase in bed temperature, the maximum temperature at the top of the bed, the size of the moisture content gradients within a rice grain and the difference from the critical point for drying were all found to negatively affect HRY. By stirring the bed regularly and covering and shading the bed during the hottest parts of the day, HRY can be significantly increased leading to better returns to the farmer.
Thermal conductivity of flat-pressed wood plastic composites at different temperatures and filler content
Authors: Prisco Umberto
Published: July 2013

The thermal conductivity of wood flour (WF) filled high-density polyethylene composites (wood plastic composite, WPC) is investigated experimentally as a function of filler content and temperature. Samples are prepared by compression molding process of previously blended and extruded WPC pellets, up to 50% weight content of WF. The thermal conductivity is measured by the heat flow meter technique in a temperature range from -15°C to 80°C. Experimental results show that the WPC thermal conductivity decreases with temperature and WF content, with the last effect due to the increase in porosity with the filler content, as confirmed by density measurements. Using the thermal conductivity of bare WF, the thermal conductivity of the wood material in WPC is estimated. This value successfully predicts the upper and lower bounds of the WPC thermal conductivity by means of the parallel and series conduction model of a multiphase composite material.
Crystal structure of (Z)-N-(17-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-10,13-dimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta-[a]phenanthren-3-yl)-3-methylbut-2-enimidic acid dichloromethane monosolvate, C29H45Cl2N2O2
Authors: He Kang , Zou Juan , Wang Jin Xi , Du Jiang
Published: July 2013

C29H45Cl2N2O2, monoclinic, P21 (no. 4), a = 8.4429(4) Å, b = 19.6901(9) Å, c = 9.0259(4) Å, β = 100.700(2)°, V = 1474.4 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0492, wRref(F2) = 0.1437, T = 293 K.
Crystal structure of (Z)-2-amino-4-(2-amino-2-(4-bromophenylthio)-1-cyanovinyl)-6-bromo-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile, C19H12Br2N4OS
Authors: Gan Haifeng , Liu Xeuwei , Guo Kai
Published: July 2013

C19H12Br2N4OS, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 9.536(2) Å, b = 9.977(2) Å, c = 10.160(2) Å, α = 84.16(3)°, β = 81.34(3)°, γ = 86.25(3)°, V = 949.4 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0680, wRref(F2) = 0.1198, T = 293 K.
Cross-section measurements for the formation of manganese-52 and its isolation with a non-hazardous eluent
Authors: Buchholz M. , Spahn I. , Scholten B. , Coenen H. H.
Published: July 2013

With respect to the production of no-carrieradded 52Mn nuclear reactions on natural chromium were investigated. Cross sections of the reactions natCr(p, x)48V, 48,49,51Cr, 52g,mMn were determined in the proton energy range of 7.6 to 45MeV. Additionally, production yields of 52g,mMn and 51Cr were measured in the energy range from 8.2 to 16.9MeV and therefrom the calculated saturation thick target yields were obtained as (2.55±0.31), (6.96±0.57), and (1.53±0.15) GBq/μA, respectively. For in vivo applications like PET, low toxicity is critical and sufficient activity of a radiolabelled compound mandatory. Thus, additional purification steps after separation of radionuclides and target materials have to be avoided. However, no isolation procedure has been reported in the literature so far where radiomanganese is directly obtained in a nonhazardous solution. Therefore a new separation procedure was developed utilizing the cation-exchange resin DOWEX 50W×8 (H+-form). 52gMn was quantitatively isolated from “bulk” chromium after 3 to 4 h in non-hazardous 0.067M ammonium citrate solution. Up to 99% of 52gMn activity was harvested within 10 to 15 mL eluent solution with no measureable 51Cr impurities.
Untersuchungen von Preußisch Blau-modifizierten Elektroden zur H2O2-Bestimmung
Authors: Rabbow Thomas , Schneider Michael , Michaelis Alexander , Decker Manfred , Vonau Winfried , Konat-Stepowicz Joanna , Eichler Rüdiger
Published: July 2013

Zur empfindlichen quantitativen elektrochemischen Bestimmung von Wasserstoffperoxid wurden Graphitfasern erfolgreich mit Preußisch Blau (PB) modifiziert. Bei den Messungen an diesen Elektroden wurde ein linearer Zusammenhang zwischen der geflossenen Ladung und der zugegebenen nanomolaren Menge an H2O2 gefunden. Die PB-Abscheidung wurde zuvor an Gold-Dickschichtelektroden untersucht. Perspektivisch soll das System zur Messung von H2O2 in feuchter Raumluft und im Atemkondensat dienen.
Single Cable, Multichannel Measuring System for Heavy Load, High Impact Drop Tests
Authors: Bartholmai Matthias , Kammermeier Michael , Werner Klaus-Dieter , Wilk Tabea
Published: July 2013

Multichannel measuring systems are used to measure strains and accelerations during drop tests of containments for dangerous goods. Conventional systems require cabling of each sensor and co-falling of the cable harness, causing problems in the test preparation and execution. Promising results of a single cable measuring system, consisting of measuring modules with data bus connection and local data acquisition were presented in a previous study. This paper follows up with results from laboratory and full-scale testing of an further enhanced single cable system for the application in drop tests.
Assessing Functional Impairment in Siblings Living With Children With Disability
Authors: Goudie Anthony , Havercamp Susan , Jamieson Barry , Sahr Timothy
Published: July 2013

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to empirically test if siblings of children with disability had higher levels of parent-reported behavioral and emotional functional impairment compared with a peer group of siblings residing with only typically developing children.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective secondary analysis of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We included only households with at least 2 children to ensure sibling relationships. Two groups of siblings were formed: 245 siblings resided in households with a child with disability and 6564 siblings resided in households with typically developing children. Parents responded to questions from the Columbia Impairment Scale to identify functional impairment in their children.

RESULTS:

On the basis of parent reports and after adjusting for sibling demographic characteristics and household background, siblings of children with disability were more likely than siblings residing with typically developing children to have problems with interpersonal relationships, psychopathological functioning, functioning at school, and use of leisure time (P < .05). The percentage of siblings of children with disability classified with significant functional impairment was 16.0% at the first measurement period and 24.2% at the second (P < .001). For siblings of typically developing children there was a smaller percentage increase from 9.5% to 10.3% (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Functional impairment is a key indicator for the need of mental health services and, as such, early assessment and interventions to limit increasing severity and short- to long-term consequences need to be addressed. Health care professionals need to consider a family-based health care approach for families raising children with disability.
Intermittent Parathyroid Hormone Administration Improves Periodontal Healing in Rats
Authors: Vasconcelos Daniel Fernando Pereira , Marques Marcelo Rocha , Benatti Bruno Braga , Barros Silvana Pereira , Nociti Júnior Francisco Humberto , Novaes Pedro Duarte
Published: July 2013

Background: Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) promotes new bone formation in patients with osteoporosis and bone fractures. It was shown previously that PTH also reduces periodontitis‐related bone loss. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of treatment with PTH on periodontal healing in rats.

Methods: Fenestration defects were created at the buccal surface of the distal root of the mandibular first molars, and both periodontal ligament (PDL) and cementum were removed. Animals were then assigned to two groups (eight animals per group): group 1: control, placebo administration; and group 2: test, human PTH (hPTH) 1‐34 administration at a concentration of 40 μg/kg. For both groups, the animals were injected every 2 days, and the animals were sacrificed at 14 and 21 days after surgery. Specimens were harvested and processed for routine decalcified histologic sections. The following parameters were assessed: 1) remaining bone defect extension (RBDE); 2) newly formed bone density (NFBD); 3) total callus area (TCA); 4) osteoclast number (ON) in the callus region; and 5) newly formed dental cementum‐like tissue (NFC). Birefringence of root PDL reattachment was also evaluated.

Results: Birefringence analysis showed root PDL reattachment for both groups 21 days after treatment. Intermittent hPTH 1‐34 administration decreased RBDE (P <0.01) and increased NFBD (P <0.01), TCA (P <0.01), area of NFC (P <0.01), and ON in the callus region (P <0.01).

Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, intermittent administration of hPTH 1‐34 led to an enhanced periodontal healing process compared with non‐treated animals.
An Intelligent Railway Safety Risk Assessment Support System for Railway Operation and Maintenance Analysis
Authors: An Min , Lin Wanchang , Huang Sheng
Published: July 2013

The paper presents the development of an intelligent railway safety risk assessment based support system. The
proposed method can evaluate qualitative and quantitative safety risk data and information in a uniform manner for
railway safety risk assessment. It permits the safety risk analysts to assess the risks associated with the failure modes
directly using linguistic terms, i.e. qualitative descriptors. The proposed intelligent railway safety risk assessment system
is capable of assessing the risks at component level, sub-system level and system level. It can assess not only “hard” risks
(e.g. risks of a system), but also “soft” risks (e.g. staff risks). The outcomes of safety risk assessment are represented in
two formats, risk score and risk category with a belief of percentage, which provide very useful safety risk information to
railway designers, operators, engineers and maintainers for risk response decision making. An illustrative example of staff
risk assessment in a railway depot is used to demonstrate the proposed intelligent railway safety risk assessment system.
The results indicate that by using the proposed system, risks associated with a railway depot can be assessed effectively
and efficiently.
Modelling the effects of transglutaminase and L-ascorbic acid on substandard quality wheat flour by response surface methodology
Authors: Simurina Olivera , Popov Stevan , Filipcev Bojana , Dodic Jelena , Bodroza-Solarov Marija , Demin Mirjana , Njezic Zvonko
Published: July 2013

In recent decade, there have been observed extreme variations in climatic
conditions which in combination with inadequate agro techniques lead to
decreased quality of mercantile wheat, actally flour. The application of
improvers can optimise the quality of substandard wheat flour. This paper
focuses to systematic analysis of individual and interaction effects of
ascorbic acid and transglutaminase as dough strengthening improvers. The
effects were investigated using the Response Surface Methodology.
Transglutaminase had much higher linear effect on the rheological and
fermentative properties of dough from substandard flour than L-ascorbic acid.
Both transglutaminase and L-ascorbic acid additions had a significant linear
effect on the increase of bread specific volume. Effects of transglutaminase
and ascorbic acid are dependent on the applied concentrations and it is
necessary to determine the optimal concentration in order to achieve the
maximum quality of the dough and bread. Optimal levels of tested improvers
were determined using appropriate statistical techniques which applied the
desirability function. It was found that the combination of 30 mg/kg of
transglutaminase and 75.8 mg/kg of L-ascorbic acid achieved positive
synergistic effect on rheological and fermentative wheat dough properties, as
well on textural properties and specific volume of bread made from
substandard quality flour.
Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new N-(aryl-oxo-alkyl)-5-arylidene-thiazolidine-2,4-diones
Authors: Stana Anca , Tiperciuc Brînduşa , Duma Mihaela , Pîrnău Adrian , Verité Philippe , Oniga Ovidiu
Published: July 2013

A series of new 5-(2,6-dichlorobenzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione and
5-(4-methoxy-benzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives (3a-h and 5a-h)
were synthesized starting from 5-arylidene-thiazolidine-2,4-dione and
?-halo-ketones. The structural elucidation of the newly synthesized compounds
was based on elemental analysis and spectroscopic data (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).
The synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities
against several pathogenic strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria and one fungal strain (Candida albicans), assessed in vitro as
growth inhibition diameters. Some of them displayed better inhibitory
activities than that of the reference drug against the Gram-positive S.
aureus, B. cereus, L. monocytogenes bacterial strains, and showed good
antifungal activity against C. albicans, while the antibacterial activity
against Gram-negative E. coli and S. typhimurium bacterial strains was
moderate.
An annotated bibliography of combined routing and loading problems
Authors: Iori Manuel , Martello Silvano
Published: July 2013

Transportation problems involving routing and loading at the same time are
currently a hot topic in combinatorial optimization. The interest of
researchers and practitioners is motivated by the intrinsic difficulty of
this research area, which combines two computationally hard problems, and by
its practical relevance in important real world applications. This annotated
bibliography aims at collecting, in a systematic way, the most relevant
results obtained in the area of vehicle routing with loading constraints,
with the objective of stimulating further research in this promising area.
Sex Differences in Ultra-Triathlon Performance at Increasing Race Distance
Authors: Rüst Christoph Alexander , Knechtle Beat , Knechtle Patrizia , Rosemann Thomas , Lepers Romuald
Published: July 2013

It has been argued that women should be able to outrun men in ultra-endurance distances. The present study investigated the sex difference in overall race times and split times between elite female and male Ironman Triathletes competing in Ironman Hawaii (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.195 km running) and Double Iron ultra-triathletes (7.6 km swimming, 360 km cycling, and 84.4 km running). Data from 20,638 athletes, including 5,163 women and 15,475 men competing in Ironman Hawaii and from 143 women and 1,252 men competing in Double Iron ultra-triathlon races held worldwide between 1999 and 2011 were analyzed. In Ironman Hawaii, the sex difference in performance of the top three athletes remained unchanged during the period studied for overall race time. For Double Iron ultra-triathletes, the sex difference for the top three athletes remained unchanged for overall race time. Sex differences increased as endurance race distances increased and showed no changes over time. It appears that women are unlikely to close the gap in ultra-endurance performance with men in ultra-triathlons in the near future. Physiological (e.g., maximum oxygen uptake) and anthropometric characteristics (e.g., skeletal muscle mass) may set biological limits for women.
Pseudoisotachis Pocsii Váňa, A New Genus and Species of Liverwort from the Subantarctic Marion Island
Authors: Váňa Jiří
Published: July 2013

A new genus and new species of liverwort, Pseudoisotachis Váňa and Pseudoisotachis pocsii Váňa, is described from Marion Island, part of the Prince Edward Islands, a subantarctic archipelago situated in the Kerguelen Province of the southern Indian Ocean. Family placement of the new genus and species is uncertain due to absence of androecia, gynoecia and sporophytes; morphologically it is compared with some genera of Isotachidaceae and with the genus Orthocaulis of Anastrophyllaceae. The new species is described and illustrated.
Studies on Lophocoleaceae XXII. New Taxa and Combinations in New Zealand Heteroscyphus Schiffn
Authors: Engel John J.
Published: July 2013

Heteroscyphus dentammophilus J. J. Engel & Merrill, Heteroscyphus parallelifolius J. J. Engel, and Heteroscyphus stoloniferus J. J. Engel are new species, and Lophocolea helmsiana var. subparallela E. A. Hodgs. is a new synonym of H. parallelifolius. Heteroscyphus circumdentatus var. clasmatocoleoides J. J. Engel & Merrill is a new variety, and Heteroscyphus menziesii (Mitt.) J. J. Engel is a new combination. All taxa are from New Zealand.
Brachymitrion Laciniatum (Splachnaceae) Rediscovered in South America
Authors: Cano María J. , Jiménez Juan A.
Published: July 2013

Brachymitrion laciniatum (Spruce) A. K. Kop., previously only known from the type specimen collected by Richard Spruce in Ecuador in the mid-eighteenth century, has been rediscovered in South America and is reported for the first time in Peru. New data about its morphology are provided. The species is illustrated by the first time and its distribution mapped.
Finite difference scheme for the time-space fractional diffusion equations
Authors: Cao Jianxiong , Li Changpin
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we derive two novel finite difference schemes for two types of time-space fractional diffusion equations by adopting weighted and shifted Grünwald operator, which is used to approximate the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative to the second order accuracy. The stability and convergence of the schemes are analyzed via mathematical induction. Moreover, the illustrative numerical examples are carried out to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the schemes.
Optimal control strategies for coupled quantum dots
Authors: Räsänen Esa , Putaja Antti , Mardoukhi Yousof
Published: July 2013

Semiconductor quantum dots are ideal candidates for quantum information applications in solid-state technology. However, advanced theoretical and experimental tools are required to coherently control, for example, the electronic charge in these systems. Here we demonstrate how quantum optimal control theory provides a powerful way to manipulate the electronic structure of coupled quantum dots with an extremely high fidelity. As alternative control fields we apply both laser pulses as well as electric gates, respectively. We focus on double and triple quantum dots containing a single electron or two electrons interacting via Coulomb repulsion. In the two-electron situation we also briefly demonstrate the challenges of timedependent density-functional theory within the adiabatic local-density approximation to produce comparable results with the numerically exact approach.
Leishmania infantum in free-ranging hares, Spain, 2004-2010
Authors: Ruiz-Fons F , Ferroglio E , Gortázar C
Published: July 2013

Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) were recently deemed responsible for an outbreak of human leishmaniasis affecting metropolitan Madrid, Spain. However, the reservoir potential of hares in Europe is poorly known. We report a retrospective survey on Leishmania infantum, the causal agent of zoonotic endemic leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, infection status of Iberian, European (Le. europaeus) and Broom (Le. castroviejoi) hares in Spain. Spleen samples from 94 hares were tested by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays were performed on positive samples and RFLP patterns compared with those of strains reported in the scientific literature. DNA prevalence in hare spleen samples was 43.6% (95% confidence interval: 33.6-53.6). In all six regions studied at least one positive sample was found. RFLP revealed existence of specific hare strains of L. infantum differing from those reported in wild carnivores in Spain. The widespread presence of L. infantum in the most abundant Spanish hare species and the recent evidence of the ability of naturally infected hares to transmit the pathogen to Phlebotomus perniciosus, its main vector in the western Mediterranean, suggest that hares may have an unexpected role in the epidemiology of L. infantum in Spain.
Novel Preparation of Tiaprofenic Acid
Authors: Zhang Shuguang , Huang Shuang , Feng Chengliang , Cai Jin , Chen Junqing , Ji Min
Published: July 2013

A new synthesis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug tiaprofenic acid starting from thiophene is described. The sequence involves five steps, and the acylation with benzoyl chloride was catalysed by zinc oxide under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. This method uses a much cheaper starting material and has a higher total yield (78.4%) than other methods. It is suitable for industrial production.
Endemicity of malaria in rural areas: A prospective longitudinal study in India
Authors: Ansari Mohammad Athar , Khan Iqbal Mohd
Published: July 2013

The aim of the study is to assess the magnitude of the problem and certain epidemiological factors associated with malaria and examine the changing pattern of malaria through its parameters of measurement during 2009-2011. The study was carried out at the Rural Health Training Center (RHTC), under the J. N. Medical College, Aligarh Mus-lim University, Aligarh, (India) for three years from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2011. Teams of doctors and paramedical staff regularly visited the villages. If any person was found to be suffering from fever, his/her blood was examined for the malaria parasite. Patients were given presumptive treatment and radical treatment if slides were positive. The findings of the study demonstrated that the number of malaria cases increased during the study period, but in the year 2010, a sudden upsurge was noticed. Out of 5594 patients, most of the patients seen were in the age group of 11-20 years (34.3%). P. vivax (96.2%) was the most common malaria infection in these areas. An increasing trend of malaria was seen from July to October. Most of the parameters of malaria measurement in-creased many folds in 2010 and showed a declining trend in 2011. The overall findings of the study indicated the high endemicity of malaria in the study area and demonstrated a changing pattern of malaria in the registered vil-lages as most of the parameters of malaria measurement increased. An integrated approach is needed which in-cludes mass survey or active surveillance, and appropriate drug therapy to tackle this public health problem. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v2i2.15940 South East Asia J Public Health | Jul-Dec 2012 | Vol 2 Issue 2 | 28-33
Impact of sensitization workshop on knowledge and awareness of hospital-acquired infection among nurses of a teaching hospital in India
Authors: Avachat Shubhada , Phalke Deepak , Zambare Mrinal , Phalke Vaishali
Published: July 2013

Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in healthcare settings is the most frequent adverse event in healthcare delivery worldwide. Hundreds of millions of patients are affected by HAI worldwide each year, leading to significant patient mortality rates and financial losses for health systems. We evaluated the impact of a sensitization workshop on knowledge and awareness of HAI among nurses in a medical college hospital in rural area of Ahmednagar district, India from March 2010 to August 2010. One hundred staff nurses, who had more than one year of experience, had attended the workshops on HAI. Pre- and post-test data was collected by a questionnaire. A significant increase in number of nurses having knowledge regarding commonly occurring HAI and routes of transmission , barrier nursing and hygienic hand washing techniques, hospital waste management (its importance and color coding), and the im-portance of an infection control team was observed after the workshop. Education and training of healthcare workers about standard infection control can reduce the extent of risks of HAI. Nurses have a critical role to play in preven-tion measures and infection control and they should have the opportunity for continuous professional development. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v2i2.15960 South East Asia J Public Health | Jul-Dec 2012 | Vol 2 Issue 2 | 77-79
Relationship between nutritional status and eruption of first permanent mandibular molar teeth among the school children in Indonesia
Authors: Alhamda Syukra
Published: July 2013

Abstract not available DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v2i2.15962 South East Asia J Public Health | Jul-Dec 2012 | Vol 2 Issue 2 | 85-86
Biofuel that Keeps Glycerol as Monoglyceride by 1,3-Selective Ethanolysis with Pig Pancreatic Lipase Covalently Immobilized on AlPO4 Support
Authors: Luna Carlos , Sancho Enrique , Luna Diego , Caballero Verónica , Calero Juan , Posadillo Alejandro , Verdugo Cristóbal , Bautista Felipa , Romero Antonio
Published: July 2013

By using pig pancreatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3 or PPL) as a biocatalyst, covalently immobilized on amorphous AlPO4 support, a new second generation biodiesel was obtained in the transesterification reaction of sunflower oil with ethanol. The resulting biofuel is composed of fatty acid ethyl esters and monoglycerides (FAEE/MG) blended in a 2:1 molar ratio. This novel product, which integrates glycerol as monoacylglycerols (MG) into the biofuels composition, has similar physicochemical properties as conventional biodiesel and also avoids the removal step of the by-product by washing of the biodiesel with water. Immobilization of PPL was achieved by covalent attachment of the ε-amino group of the lysine residues of PPL with the aldehyde groups of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde linked on a hybrid organic-inorganic functionalized AlPO4 surface. With this procedure, the PPL biocatalyst was strongly fixed to the inorganic support surface (94.3%). Nevertheless, the efficiency of the immobilized enzyme was relatively lower compared to that of the free PPL, but it showed a remarkable stability as well as a great capacity of reutilization (25 reuses) without a significant loss of its initial catalytic activity. Therefore, this enzymatic method allows the production of a biodiesel which integrates the glycerol, allows a more efficient fabrication method and minimizes the waste production as compared to the conventional alkali-catalyzed process.
Transparency of Reporting in Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Bustin Stephen
Published: July 2013

The major advances made over the past few years in molecular and cell biology are providing a progressively more detailed understanding of the molecular pathways that control normal processes and become dysregulated in disease [1]. This has resulted in the documentation of numerous genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers that promise earlier disease detection, more accurate patient stratification and better prognosis [2–5]. Furthermore, molecular fingerprinting of diseases can be predictive of drug response and so assist with specific targeting of drugs against disease-associated molecules and function [6]. [...]
Aporphine Alkaloids from the Leaves of Phoebe grandis (Nees) Mer. (Lauraceae) and Their Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Omar Hanita , Hashim Najihah , Zajmi Asdren , Nordin Noraziah , Abdelwahab Siddiq , Azizan Ainnul , Hadi A. , Ali Hapipah
Published: July 2013

The oxoaporphine alkaloid lysicamine (1), and three proaporphine alkaloids, litsericinone (2), 8,9,11,12-tetrahydromecambrine (3) and hexahydromecambrine A (4) were isolated from the leaves of Phoebe grandis (Nees) Merr. (Lauraceae). Compounds 2 and 3 were first time isolated as new naturally occurring compounds from plants. The NMR data for the compounds 2–4 have never been reported so far. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxic activity against a MCF7 (human estrogen receptor (ER+) positive breast cancer) cell line with IC50 values of 26 and 60 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxic activity against HepG2 (human liver cancer) cell line was evaluated for compounds 1–4 with IC50 values of 27, 14, 81 and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Lysicamine (1) displayed strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (B145), Staphylococcus aureus (S1434) and Staphylococus epidermidis (a clinically isolated strain) with inhibition zones of 15.50 ± 0.57, 13.33 ± 0.57 and 12.00 ± 0.00 mm, respectively. However, none of the tested pathogenic bacteria were susceptible towards compounds 2 and 3.
Determining Chemical Reactivity Driving Biological Activity from SMILES Transformations: The Bonding Mechanism of Anti-HIV Pyrimidines
Authors: Putz Mihai , Dudaş Nicoleta
Published: July 2013

Assessing the molecular mechanism of a chemical-biological interaction and bonding stands as the ultimate goal of any modern quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study. To this end the present work employs the main chemical reactivity structural descriptors (electronegativity, chemical hardness, chemical power, electrophilicity) to unfold the variational QSAR though their min-max correspondence principles as applied to the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) transformation of selected uracil derivatives with anti-HIV potential with the aim of establishing the main stages whereby the given compounds may inhibit HIV infection. The bonding can be completely described by explicitly considering by means of basic indices and chemical reactivity principles two forms of SMILES structures of the pyrimidines, the Longest SMILES Molecular Chain (LoSMoC) and the Branching SMILES (BraS), respectively, as the effective forms involved in the anti-HIV activity mechanism and according to the present work, also necessary intermediates in molecular pathways targeting/docking biological sites of interest.
Evaluation of the Zoonotic Potential of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy
Authors: Comoy Emmanuel , Mikol Jacqueline , Ruchoux Marie-Madeleine , Durand Valérie , Luccantoni-Freire Sophie , Dehen Capucine , Correia Evelyne , Casalone Cristina , Richt Juergen , Greenlee Justin , Torres Juan , Brown Paul , Deslys Jean-Philippe
Published: July 2013

Successful transmission of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy (TME) to cattle supports the bovine hypothesis for the still controversial origin of TME outbreaks. Human and primate susceptibility to classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (c-BSE) and the transmissibility of L-type BSE to macaques indicate a low cattle-to-primate species barrier. We therefore evaluated the zoonotic potential of cattle-adapted TME. In less than two years, this strain induced in cynomolgus macaques a neurological disease similar to L-BSE but distinct from c-BSE. TME derived from another donor species (raccoon) induced a similar disease with even shorter incubation periods. L-BSE and cattle-adapted TME were also transmissible to transgenic mice expressing human prion protein (PrP). Secondary transmissions to transgenic mice expressing bovine PrP maintained the features of the three tested bovine strains (cattle TME, c-BSE and L-BSE) regardless of intermediate host. Thus, TME is the third animal prion strain transmissible to both macaques and humanized transgenic mice, suggesting zoonotic potentials that should be considered in the risk analysis of animal prion diseases for human health. Moreover, the similarities between TME and L-BSE are highly suggestive of a link between these strains, and therefore the possible presence of L-BSE for many decades prior to its identification in USA and Europe.
European Hazelnut and Almond Genetic Resources: Safeguard and Traditional Uses
Authors: Bacchetta Loretta , Di Giovanni Barbara
Published: July 2013

The extensive worldwide interest in plant genetic resources regarding the opportunities offered by their use is clearly described by the objectives set out in both the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CDB) and the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). This article presents the European AGRI GEN RES SAFENUT project, including its methods and results, as an example of a resourceful strategy for reorganizing and sharing hazelnut and almond genetic resources. The project emphasizes how crucial it is to preserve not only genetic resources per se, but also the unique cultural value of the traditional and historical uses of hazelnut and almond genetic resources, which people have conserved and, in some cases, enhanced.
Extending the IEEE 802.15.4 Security Suite with a Compact Implementation of the NIST P-192/B-163 Elliptic Curves
Authors: Piedra Antonio , Braeken An , Touhafi Abdellah
Published: July 2013

Typically, commercial sensor nodes are equipped with MCUsclocked at a low-frequency (i.e., within the 4–12 MHz range). Consequently, executing cryptographic algorithms in those MCUs generally requires a huge amount of time. In this respect, the required energy consumption can be higher than using a separate accelerator based on a Field-programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that is switched on when needed. In this manuscript, we present the design of a cryptographic accelerator suitable for an FPGA-based sensor node and compliant with the IEEE802.15.4 standard. All the embedded resources of the target platform (Xilinx Artix-7) have been maximized in order to provide a cost-effective solution. Moreover, we have added key negotiation capabilities to the IEEE 802.15.4 security suite based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). Our results suggest that tailored accelerators based on FPGA can behave better in terms of energy than contemporary software solutions for motes, such as the TinyECC and NanoECC libraries. In this regard, a point multiplication (PM) can be performed between 8.58- and 15.4-times faster, 3.40- to 23.59-times faster (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman, ECDH) and between 5.45- and 34.26-times faster (Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme, ECIES). Moreover, the energy consumption was also improved with a factor of 8.96 (PM).
«Juntos pero no revueltos»: Procesos de concentración escolar del «alumnado extranjero» en determinados centros educativos
Authors: García Castaño F. Javier , Rubio Gómez María
Published: July 2013

La segregación y/o concentración de poblaciones de nacionalidad extranjera en determinadas escuelas es un fenómeno abordado por la producción científica internacional, un tema recurrente para los medios de comunicación y un hecho plasmado en los discursos que, desde la sociedad en general y en concreto desde la comunidad educativa, se plantea como central en el debate sobre la presencia de alumnado «extranjero/inmigrante» en el sistema educativo y que pone en cuestión la capacidad de este para promover la igualdad. Tras presentar de forma general dicho fenómeno, visto por la producción académica y las estadísticas nacionales y regionales, mostramos nuestro trabajo empírico llevado a cabo en dos barrios de dos ciudades andaluzas, donde observamos los procesos de concentración de la población «inmigrante/extranjera» a lo largo de varios cursos escolares. Con la ayuda de los discursos construidos en estos lugares trataremos de interpretar cuál es la lógica de un fenómeno que sigue moldeando un tipo de escuela que, más que gestionar la diversidad, construye la diferencia que termina traduciéndose en desigualdad.
Un intérprete huasteco de Serapio D. Lorenzana
Authors: Chávez Gómez José Manuel A.
Published: July 2013

El artículo reedita un antiguo manual escrito de manera didáctica que fue impreso para los viajeros, comerciantes y funcionarios públicos que frecuentaban la región Huasteca en el México de fines del siglo XIX. En dicha cartilla se enseñaba la manera en que el viajante debía de abordar y relacionarse con los productores teenek para adquirir materia prima, bienes manufacturados, mercancía suntuaria o cobrarles el impuesto respectivo. La intención del artículo es la de poner a disposición de los estudiosos de la región huasteca este texto que contiene información etnohistórica, así como de historia económica muy valiosa para la zona en el final del siglo XIX. El trabajo se complementa con un inédito estudio de carácter etnográfico sobre la vida actual de los teenek para poder observar qué cambios y permanencias se han dado entre ellos.
Cuerpo y blasfemia en Cataluña (siglos XV-XVIII)
Authors: Gelabertó Vilagran Martí
Published: July 2013

El lenguaje blasfemo era una práctica social que gozaba de una vigorosa vitalidad entre una ingente cantidad de personas en el marco cultural de la Cataluña del Antiguo Régimen. Las blasfemias antropomórficas —verbales y gestuales— dirigidas a vilipendiar los órganos corporales de Dios y del resto de las figuras celestiales del panteón cristiano ocupan un lugar privilegiado dentro del vocabulario transgresor del pueblo. Expresiones vivas de una sacralidad religiosa popular que vulnera abiertamente la ortodoxia cristiana y que la Iglesia institucional procederá a desvalorizar hasta llegar a su completa desaparición en su estratégico programa de disciplinamiento moral católico empezado a fines de la Edad Media.
«Si yo cerrara los ojos, sería una niña española, catalana... de aquí». Representaciones, identidades y filiaciones en la adopción internacional en Cataluña
Authors: Anzil Verónica
Published: July 2013

En este trabajo se exploran los imaginarios de la sociedad catalana con respecto a la adopción internacional y a algunos de sus protagonistas. Se analizan cerca de ochocientos artículos publicados en dos de los periódicos de mayor tirada en Cataluña, con el objetivo de reconstruir los estereotipos que la prensa contribuye a modelar y [re]crear acerca de la adopción internacional, las personas adoptantes y adoptadas, y las sociedades de origen y de recepción. Las construcciones resultantes se comparan con el contenido de las entrevistas realizadas con padres, madres, jóvenes adoptados, educadores, profesionales y responsables de asociaciones. Habiendo comprobado la existencia de ciertos conflictos entre estas construcciones, se investigan las estrategias que los actores involucrados construyen para resolverlos.