bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic chitosan beads for covalent immobilization of nucleoside 2′-deoxyribosyltransferase: application in nucleoside analogues synthesis
Authors: Fernández-Lucas Jesús , Harris Ruth , Mata-Casar Iria , Heras Angeles , de la Mata Isabel , Arroyo Miguel
Published: July 2013

Cross-linked magnetic chitosan beads were prepared in presence of epichlorohydrin under alkaline conditions, and subsequently incubated with glutaraldehyde in order to obtain an activated support for covalent attachment of nucleoside 2′-deoxyribosyltransferase from Lactobacillus reuteri (LrNDT). Changing the amount of magnetite (Fe3O4) and epichlorohydrin (EPI) led to different macroscopic beads to be used as supports for enzyme immobilization, whose morphology and properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, spin electron resonance (ESR), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Once activated with glutaraldehyde, the best support was chosen after evaluation of immobilization yield and product yield in the synthesis of thymidine from 2′-deoxyuridine and thymine. In addition, optimal conditions for highest activity of immobilized LrNDT on magnetic chitosan were determined by response surface methodology (RSM). Immobilized biocatalyst retained 50 % of its maximal activity after 56.3 h at 60 °C, whereas 100 % activity was observed after storage at 40 °C for 144 h. This novel immobilized biocatalyst has been successfully employed in the enzymatic synthesis of 2′-deoxyribonucleoside analogues as well as arabinosyl-nucleosides such as vidarabine (ara-A) and cytarabine (ara-C). Furthermore, this is the first report which describes the enzymatic synthesis of these arabinosyl-nucleosides catalyzed by an immobilized nucleoside 2′-deoxyribosyltransferase. Finally, the attached enzyme to magnetic chitosan beads could be easily recovered and recycled for 30 consecutive batch reactions with negligible loss of catalytic activity in the synthesis of 2,6-diaminopurine-2′-deoxyriboside and 5-trifluorothymidine.
NMR structure of the N‐terminal‐most HRDC1 domain of RecQ helicase from Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Zhang Wen , Gao Zengqiang , Ming Qianqian , Hou Haifeng , Lan Wenxian , Wu Houming , Cao Chunyang , Dong Yuhui
Published: July 2013

The RecQ helicase from Deinococcus radiodurans (DrRecQ) distinguishes from other helicases in that it utilizes its three ‘helicase and RNaseD C‐terminal‧ domains (HRDC1, HRDC2 and HRDC3) to regulate its activity. These HRDC domains have different influence on the biochemical functions of DrRecQ. Currently, only the structure of HRDC3 was reported. Here, we determined the NMR structure of the N‐terminal‐most HRDC1, revealing a potential DNA binding domain. Fluorescence anisotropy assay indicates that HRDC1 has binding affinity weaker than 70 μM to all DNA substrates without any specificity. Biochemical assays suggested that HRDC1 cooperates with other domains to enhance full‐length DrRecQ interactions with DNA.
Traces on cores of -algebras associated with self-similar maps
Authors: KAJIWARA TSUYOSHI , WATATANI YASUO
Published: July 2013

We completely classify the extreme tracial states on the cores of the ${C}^{\ast } $-algebras associated with self-similar maps on compact metric spaces. We present a complete list of them. The extreme tracial states are the union of the discrete type tracial states given by measures supported on the finite orbits of the branch points and a continuous type tracial state given by the Hutchinson measure on the original self-similar set.
Continuation and bifurcation associated to the dynamical spectral sequence
Authors: FRANZOSA R. , DE REZENDE K. A. , DA SILVEIRA M. R.
Published: July 2013

In this paper we consider a filtered chain complex $C$ and its differential given by a connection matrix $\Delta $ which determines an associated spectral sequence $({E}^{r} , {d}^{r} )$. We present an algorithm which sweeps the connection matrix in order to span the modules ${E}^{r} $ in terms of bases of $C$ and gives the differentials ${d}^{r} $. In this process a sequence of similar connection matrices and associated transition matrices are produced. This algebraic procedure can be viewed as a continuation, where the transition matrices give information about the bifurcation behavior. We introduce directed graphs, called flow and bifurcation schematics, that depict bifurcations that could occur if the sequence of connection matrices and transition matrices were realized in a continuation of a Morse decomposition, and we present a dynamic interpretation theorem that provides conditions on a parameterized family of flows under which such a continuation could occur.
Superstable manifolds of invariant circles and codimension-one Böttcher functions
Authors: KASCHNER SCOTT R. , ROEDER ROLAND K. W.
Published: July 2013

Let $f: X~\dashrightarrow ~X$ be a dominant meromorphic self-map, where $X$ is a compact, connected complex manifold of dimension $n\gt 1$. Suppose that there is an embedded copy of ${ \mathbb{P} }^{1} $ that is invariant under $f$, with $f$ holomorphic and transversally superattracting with degree $a$ in some neighborhood. Suppose that $f$ restricted to this line is given by $z\mapsto {z}^{b} $, with resulting invariant circle $S$. We prove that if $a\geq b$, then the local stable manifold ${ \mathcal{W} }_{\mathrm{loc} }^{s} (S)$ is real analytic. In fact, we state and prove a suitable localized version that can be useful in wider contexts. We then show that the condition $a\geq b$ cannot be relaxed without adding additional hypotheses by presenting two examples with $a\lt b$ for which ${ \mathcal{W} }_{\mathrm{loc} }^{s} (S)$ is not real analytic in the neighborhood of any point.
Effect of silicon soil amendment on performance of sugarcane borer,Diatraea saccharalis(Lepidoptera:Crambidae) on rice
Authors: Sidhu J.K. , Stout M.J. , Blouin D.C. , Datnoff L.E.
Published: July 2013

The sugarcane borer,Diatraea saccharalis(F.), is a pest of graminaceous crops in the southern USA, including sugarcane, maize, and rice. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) soil amendments on performance of sugarcane borer,D. saccharalis, on two rice cultivars, Cocodrie and XL723. There was a significant increase in the Si content of rice plants supplemented with calcium silicate as compared to non-treated plants. Soil Si amendment led to lower relative growth rates (RGRs) and reduced boring success of sugarcane borer larvae. Effects of soil Si amendments on borer success and RGR appeared to be more pronounced in ‘Cocodrie’, the cultivar relatively susceptible to borers, than in the moderately resistant cultivar, XL723. Soil Si amendment may contribute to the management ofD. saccharalisthrough reduced feeding injury and increased exposure to adverse environmental conditions and natural enemies arising from reduced boring success.
SEQUENTIAL INTERCROPPING OF COMMON BEAN AND MUNG BEAN WITH MAIZE IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Authors: WORKU WALELIGN
Published: July 2013

Most previous studies focused on intercropping systems involving two-crop associations. However, there is much scope to improve existing cropping systems by devising and evaluating modifications that allow more effective use of the season. To this effect, experiments were conducted to quantify efficiency of sequential intercropping consisting of maize (Zea maysL.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) and mung bean (Vigna radiata(L.) Wilczek) during 2007 and 2009 cropping seasons, in southern Ethiopia. Treatments included three- and two-crop associations and equivalent sole crops of components. Land equivalent ratio (LER) and area time equivalency ratio (ATER) were used to estimate intercropping advantage. Maize had the highest partialLER, 0.95, whenever mung bean comes first in the sequence. Comparable partialLERs were observed in common bean irrespective of planting times while mung bean had greater partialLERs from simultaneous rather than sequential planting. Maize had the highest competitive ratio (1.56) followed by common bean (0.67) and mung bean (0.53). The three-crop association involving simultaneous planting of maize with mung bean followed by common bean (MZ + MB − CB) gave the highest mean totalLERof 1.66. This combination also had the highest combined productivity and maximum monetary gain, which is above the minimum acceptable marginal rate of return. It exceeded advantages from intercrops of maize–common bean by 41% and maize–mung bean by 23%. Thus, farmers would get greater advantage from practicing sequential intercropping in areas where the season is sufficient to grow long-duration maize.
New species of Cucullanus (Nematoda: Cucullanidae), an intestinal parasite of the peacock bass Cichla piquiti (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the Tocantins River, Brazil
Authors: Lacerda A.C.F. , Takemoto R.M. , Marchiori N.C. , Martins M.L. , Pavanelli G.C.
Published: July 2013

Cucullanus tucunarensis n. sp. (Cucullanidae) is described parasitizing the peacock bass Cichla piquiti (Cichlidae) from the Tocantins River, Tocantins State, Brazil. The new species is unique and differs from all its congeners by having a tail tip provided with several sclerotized spine-like processes on its ventral side, present in both the male and female. Furthermore, C. tucunarensis n. sp. is compared with other species of the genus recorded in the same zoogeographical region and in the same group of hosts (Perciformes).
Southeastern Pashayi
Authors: Lamuwal Abd-El-Malek , Baker Adam
Published: July 2013

This illustration focuses on the variety of Pashayi (also, Pashai) spoken in the Dara-i-Nur valley of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan (approximately, N 34.682 E 70.581); the ISO 639-3 code for this variety is psi. According to Lewis (2009) there are 54,400 speakers of this variety, and about 216,000 speakers of all Pashayi dialects. The most comprehensive published study of Pashayi to date is Morgernstierne's two-volume grammar (Morgenstierne 1973, 1944), which is helpfully summarized in Bashir (2003).
Upper Saxon (Chemnitz dialect)
Authors: Khan Sameer ud Dowla , Weise Constanze
Published: July 2013

Upper Saxon (Obersächsisch/ɵːpoˁˈsɛksʃ/) refers to a group of dialects spoken by over two million people in the Free State of Saxony in eastern Germany. It is considered one of the eastern branches of Central German (Wiesinger 1983, Lewis 2009), with major phonological, morphological, and lexical differences from Standard German and other regional dialects.
Epidemiology and molecular diversity of rabies viruses in Bulgaria
Authors: ROBARDET E. , ILIEVA D. , ILIEV E. , GAGNEV E. , PICARD-MEYER E. , CLIQUET F.
Published: July 2013

A health emergency situation occurred in Bulgaria in 2007 when positive rabies cases were notified in Sofia district in the central-western part of the country, suggesting a southward spread of the disease for the first time in the last 10 years. Phylogenetic analysis on 49 isolates sampled between 2009 and 2011 showed, for the first time, evidence of the existence of NEE and D clustered lineages in Bulgaria. Their geographical distribution clearly reveals the permeability of natural barriers, as already suggested by the disease spread that occurred across the Balkan mountain range in 2007. The monitoring and passive surveillance programmes conducted since the first 2009 oral vaccination campaign, the spatio-temporal evolution of the disease in the country since 2007, and the need for further investigation of the role of jackals in virus dispersion are discussed.
Does nutrition information on menus impact food choice? Comparisons across two hospital cafeterias
Authors: Vanderlee Lana , Hammond David
Published: July 2013

Objective

Food prepared and consumed away from home accounts for a significant proportion of dietary intake among Canadians. Currently, Canadians receive little or no nutrition information when eating in restaurant and fast-food outlets. The present study examined the impact of nutrition information on menus in hospital cafeterias on noticing and perceived influence of nutrition information and on food consumption.

Design

Cross-sectional surveys.

Setting

Exit surveys (n 1003) were conducted in two hospital cafeterias. The ‘intervention’ site featured energy (calorie), sodium and fat content on digital menu boards, as well as a health logo for ‘healthier’ items. The intervention site had also revised its menu items to improve the nutrient profiles. The ‘control’ site provided limited nutrition information at the point of sale.

Subjects

Cafeteria patrons recruited using the intercept technique.

Results

Significantly more respondents at the intervention site reported noticing nutrition information (OR = 7·6, P < 0·001) and using nutrition information to select their food items (OR = 3·3, P < 0·001) compared with patrons at the control site, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Patrons at the intervention site consumed significantly less energy (−21 %, P < 0·001), sodium (−23 %, P < 0·001), saturated fat (−33 %, P < 0·001) and total fat (−37 %, P < 0·001) than patrons at the control site.

Conclusions

A nutritional programme, including nutrition information on menus and improved nutrition profile of food offerings, was associated with substantial reductions in energy, sodium and fat consumption. The results are consistent with a positive impact of menu labelling.
Phosphoproteomics of collagen receptor networks reveals SHP-2 phosphorylation downstream of wild-type DDR2 and its lung cancer mutants
Authors: Iwai Leo K. , Payne Leo S. , Luczynski Maciej T. , Chang Francis , Xu Huifang , Clinton Ryan W. , Paul Angela , Esposito Edward A. , Gridley Scott , Leitinger Birgit , Naegle Kristen M. , Huang Paul H.
Published: July 2013

Collagen is an important extracellular matrix component that directs many fundamental cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation and motility. The signalling networks driving these processes are propagated by collagen receptors such as the β1 integrins and the DDRs (discoidin domain receptors). To gain an insight into the molecular mechanisms of collagen receptor signalling, we have performed a quantitative analysis of the phosphorylation networks downstream of collagen activation of integrins and DDR2. Temporal analysis over seven time points identified 424 phosphorylated proteins. Distinct DDR2 tyrosine phosphorylation sites displayed unique temporal activation profiles in agreement with in vitro kinase data. Multiple clustering analysis of the phosphoproteomic data revealed several DDR2 candidate downstream signalling nodes, including SHP-2 (Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2), NCK1 (non-catalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1), LYN, SHIP-2 [SH2 (Src homology 2)-domain-containing inositol phosphatase 2], PIK3C2A (phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit type 2α) and PLCL2 (phospholipase C-like 2). Biochemical validation showed that SHP-2 tyrosine phosphorylation is dependent on DDR2 kinase activity. Targeted proteomic profiling of a panel of lung SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) DDR2 mutants demonstrated that SHP-2 is tyrosine-phosphorylated by the L63V and G505S mutants. In contrast, the I638F kinase domain mutant exhibited diminished DDR2 and SHP-2 tyrosine phosphorylation levels which have an inverse relationship with clonogenic potential. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that SHP-2 is a key signalling node downstream of the DDR2 receptor which may have therapeutic implications in a subset of DDR2 mutations recently uncovered in genome-wide lung SCC sequencing screens.
Radiofrequency ablation suppresses distant tumour growth in a novel rat model of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Erös de Bethlenfalva-Hora Caroline , Mertens Joachim C. , Piguet Anne-Christine , Kettenbach Joachim , Schmitt Johannes , Terracciano Luigi , Weimann Rosemarie , Dufour Jean-François , Geier Andreas
Published: July 2013

RFA (radiofrequency ablation) is an established therapy for HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma). The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib prolongs survival in advanced HCC. We examined the effects of RFA alone and in combination with sorafenib on a bystanding tumour in a two-tumour rat model of HCC. A total of 80 rats were implanted with two liver tumours and randomized to four treatment groups: vehicle and sham operation (control), sorafenib and sham operation (Sora/Sham), vehicle and RFA (Vh/RFA), and sorafenib and RFA (Sora/RFA) (n=10/group per time point). RFA or sham-operation was performed on the left lobe tumour on day 15. Animals were killed at day 18 and day 30. Non-RFA-targeted right lobe tumours were analysed for angiogenesis, growth factors [HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), EGF (epidermal growth factor) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)] and infiltrating immune cells (CD3 and CD68). At day 30, the non-RFA-targeted tumours were significantly smaller in all three treatment groups compared with control (Sora/Sham P≤0.0001, Vh/RFA P=0.005 and Sora/RFA P≤0.0001). The smallest tumours were observed in animals treated with a combination of sorafenib and RFA, whereas the size reduction seen in the RFA-only group indicated an RFA-mediated distant suppression of tumour growth. Growth factor measurement revealed transiently decreased EGF levels after RFA (P=0.008), whereas sorafenib treatment decreased HGF levels (P=0.001). MVD (microvessel density) was reduced by sorafenib (P=0.002) despite increased VEGF levels (P≤0.0001). The immune parameters revealed augmented T-cells and IL-10 (interleukin 10) levels in all three treatment groups; sorafenib additionally increased macrophage numbers (P≤0.0001). RFA and sorafenib alone resulted in significant volume reduction of the non-RFA-targeted tumour; this effect was enhanced when both modalities were combined.
Communication channel sharing‐based network‐induced delay and packet dropout compensation for networked control systems
Authors: Wang Tian‐Bao , Wu Cheng‐Dong , Wang Yu‐Long , Zhang Yun‐Zhou
Published: July 2013

This study is concerned with the problem of dual communication channels sharing‐based network‐induced delay and packet dropout compensation for continuous‐time networked control systems (NCSs). By introducing the dual communication channels sharing‐based compensation method, a new closed‐loop model for continuous‐time NCSs, which can receive more than one control input during a control input updating time interval, is established. Based on the newly established model and a new Lyapunov functional, an effective controller design criterion is derived to optimise the H∞ performance of the considered systems. Even for NCSs without considering network‐induced delay and packet dropout compensation, the newly derived controller design method is also applicable. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the merits and effectiveness of the proposed compensation method.
Consensusability of continuous‐time multi‐agent systems with general linear dynamics and intermittent measurements
Authors: Gao Yanping , Ma Jingwei , Zuo Min , Mo Lipo , Yu Junyan
Published: July 2013

This article studies the consensusability of multi‐agent systems with general linear continuous‐time dynamics. It is assumed that each agent can only obtain the information of other agents at sampling instants. Some sufficient and necessary conditions for consensusability in the case of state feedback are established, and it is shown that multi‐agent systems with periodic sampling are consensusable if and only if the system associated with each agent is stabilisable and the topology graph has a spanning tree. Furthermore, some methods are provided to seek controller gain and sampling period which ensure consensus. Simulations are performed to validate the theoretical results.
Closed‐loop design of fault detection for networked non‐linear systems with mixed delays and packet losses
Authors: Feng Jian , Wang Shenquan , Zhao Qing
Published: July 2013

This study is concerned with the problem of fault detection (FD) for networked control systems with discrete and infinite distributed delays subject to random packet losses and non‐linear perturbation. Both sensor‐to‐controller and controller‐to‐actuator packet losses are modelled as two different mutually independent Bernoulli distributed white sequences with known conditional probability distributions. By utilising an observer‐based fault detection filter (FDF) as a residual generator, the FD for networked non‐linear systems with mixed delays and packet losses is formulated as an H∞ model‐matching problem. Attention is focused on designing the FDF in the closed‐loop system setup such that the estimation error between the residuals and filtered faults is made as small as possible and at the same time the closed‐loop networked non‐linear system is exponentially stable in the mean‐square sense. To show the superiority and effectiveness of this work, two numerical examples are presented.
Unaccredited registrar positions in Australian public hospitals: is it time for a rethink?
Authors: Mitchell Rob , Milford William J. , Bonning Michael , Markwell Alex , Roberts-Thomson Ross
Published: July 2013

Unaccredited registrar positions are a significant source of inefficiency in postgraduate medical training. Their educational value is debated due to a lack formal supervision, appraisal or assessment requirements. In the context of increasing numbers of trainees and escalating demand for public hospital services, the extent to which unaccredited registrar positions can be converted to accredited training posts warrants urgent examination. The major obstacle is meeting college standards, particularly with respect to caseload and supervision requirements. Notwithstanding the barriers to reform, this article describes how a coordinated process to accredit these posts would increase training capacity and enhance vertical integration in postgraduate medical education.
Degree of compactness, soil physical properties and yield of soybean in six soils under no-tillage
Authors: Suzuki L. E. A. S. , Reichert J. M. , Reinert D. J.
Published: July 2013

The ‘degree of compactness’ is a useful parameter to study soil compaction and represents the current bulk density in relation to the bulk density of the same soil in a reference state. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the best compression stress to establish the reference bulk density in the uniaxial compression test using undisturbed samples; (ii) quantify the effect of texture on degree of compactness, and (iii) evaluate the influence of degree of compactness on selected soil physical properties and crop yield. Six soils under no-tillage from southern Brazil were used and the reference bulk density was evaluated on soil samples equilibrated to the matric suction of 33 kPa and subjected to uniaxial compression test. Soil macroporosity, mechanical penetration resistance, root growth, and yield of soybean were also evaluated. For undisturbed soil samples, stresses ≥800 kPa (particularly the stress of 1600 kPa) are appropriate to determine the reference bulk density. Degree of compactness is independent of clay content and is associated with changes in soil physical properties. A degree of compactness ~100% restricted root growth of soybean, whereas the highest soybean yield was obtained with a DC of 82% for Alfisols and Ultisol, and 85% for Oxisols.
Biology, ecology and management of the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta.
Authors: Urbaneja A. , Desneux N. , Gabarra R. , Arnó J. , González-Cabrera J. , Mafra Neto A. , Stoltman L. , Pinto A. de S. , Parra J. R. P.
Published: July 2013

This chapter focuses on the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (i) origin, spread and current distribution; (ii) basic but critical information regarding bioecology; (iii) rearing techniques; (iv) known host plants; (v) sampling and monitoring techniques; and (vi) control methods available from both South America and newly infested areas, as well as their potential use for integrated pest management. Some hints are provided on present and future management strategies.
Tecia solanivora Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), an invasive pest of potatoes Solanum tuberosum L. in the Northern Andes.
Authors: Carrillo D. , Torrado-Leon E.
Published: July 2013

T. solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a key pest of potato tubers that recently invaded some cultivation areas in South America and the Canary Islands, with disastrous effects on the potato industry in these areas. This chapter describes the pest distribution, life history, life cycle, sampling, monitoring, damage to the crop, and control strategies, including chemical, biological, host plant resistance, cultural and regulatory quarantine tactics.
Bactrocera species that pose a threat to Florida: B. carambolae and B. invadens.
Authors: Malavasi A. , Midgarden D. , Meyer M. de
Published: July 2013

This chapter describes the host range, colonization ability, taxonomic status, mating behaviour, oviposition, adult feeding, life stages, geographical distribution, sampling and monitoring techniques, economic importance, and control tactics (including male annihilation and foliage baiting) of two Bactrocera species that pose a threat to Florida (USA): B. carambolae and B. invadens.
Signature chemicals for detection of Citrus infestation by fruit fly larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Authors: Kendra P. E. , Roda A. L. , Montgomery W. S. , Schnell E. Q. , Niogret J. , Epsky N. D. , Heath R. R.
Published: July 2013

This chapter presents a study conducted to examine Citrus fruits infested with A. suspensa to determine if the infested fruits emitted a detectable chemical profile distinct from that of non-infested Citrus fruits. Samples of headspace volatiles were collected at various stages of infestation and chemical analysis was performed with several types of GC equipment. Since the primary goal was development of a rapid screening protocol for 'signature chemicals', the majority of analyses were performed with a rapid (9 min) GC separation method. To evaluate the efficacy of separation with this rapid method, and to identify the volatile chemical components, a slower (25 min) high-resolution GC separation was performed in combination with mass spectral analysis. A preliminary evaluation was carried out of a portable ultra-high-speed GC analyser for detection of these same chemicals using a method requiring less than 80 s for sampling and chemical analysis. The results of the study indicate that there are GC-detectable volatile chemicals associated with tephritid infestation of fruit commodities. With infested grapefruits, the chemicals can be distinguished as those indicative of Citrus peel injury and those correlated with larval feeding (pulp/albedo injury). Of the chemicals identified, none appeared to be insect-produced, but rather natural fruit volatiles occurring at higher levels than normal. Elevated levels of δ-limonene and β-ocimene are only indicative of puncture wounds or other external damage to the grapefruit peel. However, if these two chemicals are accompanied by elevated levels of hexyl butanoate and the (as of yet) unidentified compound, this volatile profile is potentially diagnostic of Citrus infestation.
Recent mite invasions in South America.
Authors: Navia D. , Marsaro Júnior A. L. , Gondim Júnior M. G. C. , Mendonça R. S. de , Pereira P. R. V. da S.
Published: July 2013

This chapter focuses on five phytophagous mites that were reported in South America during the last decade and that were considered relevant due to their current or potential socioeconomic importance and/or their invasive history: the Hindustan Citrus Mite, Schizotetranychus hindustanicus; the Lychee Erinose Mite, Aceria litchii; the Red Palm Mite, Raoiella indica; the Wheat Curl Mite, Aceria tosichella; and the Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki. Information is given on their taxonomy, distribution and invasion history, host plants, and economic impact on past and recently affected areas of these invasive mites. A brief review of morphological and biological aspects, symptoms, detection and control tactics (including chemical, biological, cultural, and host plant resistance) in use or of potential for these invasive mites, is also presented.
Biology, ecology and control of the Ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).
Authors: Legaspi J. C. , Mannion C. , Amalin D. , Legaspi B. C., Jr.
Published: July 2013

This chapter describes the economic importance, geographical distribution, biological development, life history, host plants, and control (using insecticides and biological control agents such as parasitoids, predatory insects and entomogenous fungi) of the ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex.
Likelihood of dispersal of the armored scale, Aonidiella orientalis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), to avocado trees from infested fruit discarded on the ground, and observations on spread by handlers.
Authors: Hennessey M. K. , Peña J. E. , Zlotina M. , Santos K.
Published: July 2013

Results are presented of experiments conducted in Homestead, Florida, USA, from 2007 to 2009 to investigate the likelihood of infestation of orchard avocado trees by crawlers of oriental red scale, Aonidiella orientalis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), originating from artificially infested fruit discarded into an orchard. In a favourable climate, the percentage of crawlers settling on a tree from very heavily infested fruit discarded when crawlers were emerging, from fruit with a long shelf life, and from fruit discarded near a tree, was low. Infestation was higher when fruit was in contact with the tree than when it was placed 2 m away. It is concluded that establishment via the pathway of commercially produced fruit for consumption is low, because such fruit has not been observed to be as heavily infested, and is not as likely to be discarded in an orchard as was the study fruit. A second part of the study investigated if fruit handlers could become infested with crawlers and be a pathway for establishment. Fruit handlers did receive a low percentage of crawlers on their clothes when they engaged in brushing crawlers from heavily (>5000 crawlers per fruit) infested fruit in the laboratory. Importantly, the pathway from the handlers' clothes to trees in an orchard has not been demonstrated. Good sanitation and safeguarding practices in the packing houses and the orchards can further ensure the prevention of armored scale introduction via the commodity intended for human consumption.
Stigmatization of Substance Use Disorders among Internal Medicine Residents
Authors: Meltzer Ellen C. , Suppes Alexandra , Burns Sam , Shuman Andrew , Orfanos Alex , Sturiano Christopher V. , Charney Pamela , Fins Joseph J.
Published: July 2013

Background

Evidence suggests that some physicians harbor negative attitudes towards patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The study sought to (1) measure internal medicine residents’ attitudes towards patients with SUDs and other conditions; (2) determine whether demographic factors influence regard for patients with SUDs; and (3) assess the efficacy of a 10-hour addiction medicine course for improving attitudes among a subset of residents.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 128 internal medicine residents at an academic medical center in New York City. Scores from the validated Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS) were used to assess attitude towards patients with alcoholism, dependence on narcotic pain medication, heartburn, and pneumonia. Demographic variables included gender, postgraduate training year, and prior addiction education.

Results

Mean baseline MCRS scores were lower (less regard) for patients with alcoholism (41.4) and dependence on narcotic pain medication (35.3) than for patients with pneumonia (54.5) and heartburn (48.9) ( P < .0001). Scores did not differ based upon gender, prior hours of addiction education, or year of training. After the course, MCRS scores marginally increased for patients with alcoholism (mean increased by 0.16, P = .04 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.004–0.324]) and dependence on narcotic pain medication (mean increased by 0.09, P = .10 [95% CI: 0.02–0.22]).

Conclusions

Internal medicine residents demonstrate less regard for patients with SUDs. Participation in a course in addiction medicine was associated with modest attitude improvement; however, other efforts may be necessary to ensure that patients with potentially stigmatized conditions receive optimal care.
Jesus Christ Against Westphalian Leviathans: A Christian Anarchist Critique of Our Coercive, Idolatrous, and Unchristian International Order
Authors: Christoyannopoulos Alexandre
Published: July 2013

Christian anarchists interpret Jesus’ teaching and example to imply a total rejection of violence and coercion. They also understand Jesus to have made it clear that one cannot have two masters, that true commitment to God can only be absolute. By contrast, the Westphalian state – the very basis of international relations – rests on the presumed allegiance conferred to it by its citizens, and upon this allegiance legitimises both domestic and international violence and coercion. From a Christian anarchist perspective, therefore, the Westphalian state is strictly incompatible with the God of Christianity, and would-be Christians must necessarily choose either one or the other. If Christianity is chosen, then the state must not only be demoted from the standing and authority it enjoys today, but its violence and coercion must also be unmasked and denounced as unjustifiable from a Christian perspective. This article outlines this political theological critique of the current international order by discussing the key biblical passages upon which this critique rests, and by contrasting this to the theory and practice of the Westphalian state.
Anarchism, Terrorism Studies and Islamism
Authors: Stott Paul
Published: July 2013

The period following 9/11 saw those looking for historical precedent to explain Al Qaeda rediscover the Anarchist terrorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Coincidentally this seemed to coincide with the emergence of Islamo-Anarchism, an attempt by some to marry a spiritual Islam with the decentralised anti-governmental approach of Anarchism.This article firstly rejects these developments, but goes on to contend that such narratives are perhaps not surprising given the paucity of debate in the fast developing academic field of Terrorism Studies, dominated as it is by either statist and security industry tendencies, or a Critical Terrorism Studies perspective that risks becoming the mirror opposite of its opponent.
Evolution and Anarchism in International Relations: The Challenge of Kropotkin’s Biological Ontology
Authors: Goodwin Adam
Published: July 2013

This paper will utilize Peter Kropotkin’s theory of Mutual Aid to reconsider ontology in IR. Mutual Aid Theory holds that the evolution of organisms is shaped by cooperation within a group of species against a variable ecology; thus giving rise to a sociality instinct (Kropotkin 1902). This is contrasted with the Malthusian assumption that evolution takes place at the individual level according to their intraspecific fitness. Mutual Aid Theory, applied to the realm of politics, overturns collective action problem-grounded theories that hold that the egoistic and competitive drive of humans must be overcome to promote cooperation. Thayer (2004) applied the orthodox individual-fitness interpretation of evolution in an attempt to shore up Realist arguments. I argue that such reductionist approaches to studying politics are archaic and not congruent with current scientific understanding. A critical realist approach, placing analytical priority on ontological investigations over epistemological/methodological commitments, is employed to assist in the criticism of orthodox reductionist ontologies. However, equally in line with Kropotkin’s anarchist ideas, I argue that this critical realist approach also provokes ontologically-driven inquiries into post-sovereignty global politics and can inform the emancipatory intent of critical IR theory, along the basic anarchist ontological claim: society precedes the State.
The Message of Torture: Biopolitics and Bare Life in the US Discourse of the War on Terror
Authors: Perezalonso Andrés
Published: July 2013

Certain practices of the George W. Bush’s administration’s ‘war on terror’ related to the management of human life are examined through the lens of Michel Foucault’s concept of biopolitics and Giorgio Agamben’s idea of bare life. However, a discursive dimension is added. The practices are assessed as an essential part of the message and a determining factor in the overall content of the discourse. While Foucault provides useful insights, it is Agamben’s work that proves to be more accurate for the understanding of the discourse.
The Role of Borders as Sites and Progenitors of Conflict: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Hoseason Alexander
Published: July 2013

The growth of transnationalism through the technological advances offered by modernity have forced a reconsideration of the way that we think about borders in the analysis of conflict. This essay examines the issue from two sides, that of borders as the site of conflict, and also as the progenitor or enabling factor. The way in which borders no longer necessarily operate as the site of conflict, and, in the conclusion, sites of cooperation, is examined, demonstrating the growing tendency for events to take place with great distance between actors and in non-contiguous zones. For borders to operate as the progenitors of conflict, it is necessary for them either to act as a necessary or sufficient cause. It is asserted that borders are necessary in order to signify the division of identity that conflict requires, but that their existence does not preclude cooperation. The methods through which borders are constructed are examined through the use of the Copenhagen School’s method of securitisation analysis, which provides the assertion that conflict is the result of the violating of practices of intersubjective understanding rather than the existence of borders as such. Ways in which the strength of borders may vary, and their limits are discussed, before asserting their continuing importance, and it is claimed that globalization works toward relocating, without undermining or challenging, the concept of borders.
Marx, Morality, and the Global Justice Debate
Authors: Wilde Lawrence
Published: July 2013

Marx’s disdain for moral discourse is well known, and it is therefore hardly surprising that he barely rates a mention in the global justice debate that has developed apace over the last two decades. However, it is questionable that the debate, addressing as it does systemic inequalities in power, should simply ignore Marx’s analysis of exploitation in capitalism and its implicit ethical grounding in the alienation thesis. Conventional Marxist positions can be critical of liberal arguments about justice, but offer no alternative within moral discourse. However, if the ethical significance of Marx’s social theory is admitted, it could produce a radical and constructive contribution to global justice. This paper argues for such an engagement on two grounds. First, that Marx’s hostility to moral discourse was a tactical choice rather than a rejection of morality as such, and that this choice is no longer justifiable. Second, there is an ethics explicit in his early writings and implicit in his mature political economy that could be developed to produce an ethics of self-realisation. The point of access to existing debates in global justice is the work of Martha Nussbaum, one of the few contributors to make use of Marx’s philosophical views on human flourishing. A Marxist perspective could give qualified support to her capabilities approach, as applied to global justice in Frontiers of Justice (2006), while clarifying its limitations in not dealing with the realities of global economic power.
Sinicized Marxist Constitutionalism: Its Emergence, Contents, and Implications
Authors: Peng Andrew
Published: July 2013

After three decades of economic reform and opening up to the outside world, China’s ideological realm has been significantly transformed and complicated. This is well manifested in the constitutional discourses concerning the future of China. One notable example is the wide acceptance of the liberal constitutional paradigm among Chinese intellectuals. This liberal perspective historically viewed the constitution of a Marxist-Leninist state as a ‘sham,’ or a ‘useless’ document to rein in the government. Consequently scholars influenced by this paradigm look contemptuously at the current Chinese constitution, which for them needs to be abolished, significantly revised, or judicialized. However, in recent years, in light of the significant progress of the constitutional framework of China, including its values and practices regarding the rule of law and human rights, this dominant liberal perspective has been challenged. For example, Stephanie Balme and Michael Dowdle’s (2009) edited book Building Constitutionalism in China is devoted to exploring the empirical impacts of the emerging constitutionalism on many aspects of Chinese society. Several other scholars, such as Larry C. Backer, Jiang Shigong, Chu Jianguo, and Randall Peerenboom, etc, have also sought to establish a party-state model to grant legitimacy to China’s current constitutional development in the international community. In light of these developments, we can see that a new paradigm of Sinicized Marxist Constitutionalism (SMC) is emerging. Why is the SMC emerging? What are its contents and implications? These are the questions this paper seeks to explore. As we will see, the emergence of the SMC has deep historical roots; the paradigm is quite rich in content and carries some profound implications.
The new pirate wars: the world market as imperial formation
Authors: Policante Amedeo
Published: July 2013

The rise in pirate attacks in the proximity of the Horn of Africa and particularly off the Somali coast contributed to increasing international concern over the issue of piracy. In this article, instead of localizing and de-historicizing piracy in the Gulf of Aden as a problem of ‘state collapse’ and ‘insufficient international aid’, I argue that both piracy and international responses to it must be read as part of a much longer history of conflict, by which market institutions and respect for private property have been globalized at the point of appearing today as Universal, natural and eternal. I show how, since the eighteenth century, European empires often posed as a necessary bastion of law and order in the oceans of the world, legitimizing their violence as a form of neutral policing against depoliticized native ‘pirates’. Reducing the colonized Other to a ‘pirate’ lacking any political motive and/or legitimacy allowed European empires to depict imperialist wars as benign operations of international policing, and the colonization of entire communities as necessary for the civilization of the gangsters and criminals in their midst. In light of this history, I question the contemporary international mobilization against Somali piracy. In particular, I show how it risks banalizing and depoliticizing the complex issues that have contributed to the transformation of the sea in a zone of violence, in which different forms of plunder operate side by side.
The goose and the gander: the genital wars
Authors: Shweder Richard A.
Published: July 2013

Should there be gender equity in genital cutting? In Germany (and much of Europe), the native inhabitants tend to argue there is moral equivalence between customary male circumcision and customary female circumcision and both should be proscribed. In Sierra Leone (and several other countries in Africa), the native inhabitants tend to argue there is moral equivalence between customary male circumcision and customary female circumcision and both should be permitted. In the United States, the native inhabitants tend to argue against moral equivalence, permitting customary circumcisions for boys while proscribing them for girls. Who has the better of the argument? And what are the implications of the argument for Jews and other circumcising ethnic groups living in Europe, Africa, and North America?
Rapid similarity search of proteins using alignments of domain arrangements
Authors: Terrapon Nicolas , Weiner January , Grath Sonja , Moore Andrew D. , Bornberg-Bauer Erich
Published: July 2013

Motivation: Homology search methods are dominated by the central paradigm that sequence similarity is a proxy for common ancestry and, by extension, functional similarity. For determining sequence similarity in proteins, most widely used methods use models of sequence evolution and compare amino-acid strings in search for conserved linear stretches. Probabilistic models or sequence profiles capture the position-specific variation in an alignment of homologous sequences and can identify conserved motifs or domains. While profile-based search methods are generally more accurate than simple sequence comparison methods, they tend to be computationally more demanding. In recent years, several methods have emerged that perform protein similarity searches based on domain composition. However, few methods have considered the linear arrangements of domains when conducting similarity searches, despite strong evidence that domain order can harbour considerable functional and evolutionary signal.

Results: Here, we introduce an alignment scheme that uses a classical dynamic programming approach to the global alignment of domains. We illustrate that representing proteins as strings of domains (domain arrangements) and comparing these strings globally allows for a both fast and sensitive homology search. Further, we demonstrate that the presented methods complement existing methods by finding similar proteins missed by popular amino-acid–based comparison methods.

Availability: An implementation of the presented algorithms, a web-based interface as well as a command-line program for batch searching against the UniProt database can be found at http://rads.uni-muenster.de. Furthermore, we provide a JAVA API for programmatic access to domain-string–based search methods.

Contact:  terrapon.nicolas@gmail.com or ebb@uni-muenster.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Automated QuantMap for rapid quantitative molecular network topology analysis
Authors: Schaal Wesley , Hammerling Ulf , Gustafsson Mats G. , Spjuth Ola
Published: July 2013

Summary: The previously disclosed QuantMap method for grouping chemicals by biological activity used online services for much of the data gathering and some of the numerical analysis. The present work attempts to streamline this process by using local copies of the databases and in-house analysis. Using computational methods similar or identical to those used in the previous work, a qualitatively equivalent result was found in just a few seconds on the same dataset (collection of 18 drugs). We use the user-friendly Galaxy framework to enable users to analyze their own datasets. Hopefully, this will make the QuantMap method more practical and accessible and help achieve its goals to provide substantial assistance to drug repositioning, pharmacology evaluation and toxicology risk assessment.

Availability:  http://galaxy.predpharmtox.org

Contact:  mats.gustafsson@medsci.uu.se or ola.spjuth@farmbio.uu.se

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.