bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Mining and Urbanization on the Qin-Ba Mountainous Environment, China
Authors: Xu Xinliang , Cai Hongyan , Sun Daowei , Hu Lan , Banson Kwamina
Published: May 2016

The Qin-Ba Ecological Functional Zone is a component of China’s ecological security pattern designed to protect the regional ecosystem and maintain biodiversity. However, due to the impact of mining and urban encroachment, the plight of a sustainable ecosystem in the Qin-Ba mountainous area is deteriorating. This paper has used a remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) to examine the impacts of mining and urban encroachment on the environment in the Qin-Ba mountainous area. The results indicate that the total mined area in 2013 was 22 km2 and is predicted to escalate. Results also show that the ecosystems in Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province and Baokang County, Hubei Province were most severely affected by mining. Urbanization in the Qin-Ba mountainous area has seen an increase of 85.58 km2 in urban land use from 2010 to 2013. In addition, infrastructure development including airport construction, tourism resorts and real estate development in the Qin-Ba mountainous area has intensified environmental and biodiversity disturbances since large areas of forest have been cleared. Our results should provide insight and assistance to city planners and government officials in making informed decisions.
Economic Values and Resource Use
Authors: Malmaeus Jan
Published: May 2016

Absolute decoupling of GDP growth from resource use implies that economic output can be increased without simultaneously increasing input. The essential meaning of this proposition is that the economic values that represent the GDP can be realized by increasing resource efficiency. Given that the GDP is first and foremost a measure of economic activity rather than welfare the possibility of absolute decoupling is theoretically limited. This paper demonstrates theoretically and empirically that economic values at the macroeconomic level are fundamentally determined by the use of production factors, primarily labor and physical capital. Technical innovations or efficiency gains increasing utility without raising the costs of production do not add to the GDP unless they stimulate investments in physical capital. Hence the neoclassical notion of productivity is only found to be relevant as a microeconomic concept. In practice, GDP growth is mostly explained by capital accumulation and a key question is whether or not capital accumulation can be decoupled from the use of materials and energy. This will determine the possibility of decoupling of GDP growth from resource use and environmental impact. Alternative measures of progress focusing on welfare rather than economic activity are more likely to achieve absolute decoupling.
Comparison of open reduction versus minimally invasive surgical approaches on screw position in canine sacroiliac lag-screw fixation
Authors: Marturello Danielle , Guiot Laurent , Guillou Reunan , DeCamp Charles , Déjardin Loïc
Published: May 2016

Objective: To compare accuracy and consistency of sacral screw placement in canine pelves treated for sacroiliac luxation with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) techniques.

Methods: Unilateral sacroiliac luxations created experimentally in canine cadavers were stabilized with an iliosacral lag screw applied via ORIF or MIO techniques (n = 10/group). Dorsoventral and craniocaudal screw angles were measured using computed tomography multiplanar reconstructions in transverse and dorsal planes, respectively. Ratios between pilot hole length and sacral width (PL/SW-R) were obtained. Data between groups were compared statistically (p <0.05).

Results: Mean screw angles (±SD) were greater in ORIF specimens in both transverse (p <0.001) and dorsal planes (p <0.004). Mean PL/SW-R was smaller (p <0.001) in the ORIF group, yet was greater than 60%. While pilot holes exited the first sacral end-plate in three of 10 ORIF specimens, the spinal canal was not violated in either group.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that MIO fixation of canine sacroiliac luxations provides more accurate and consistent sacral screw placement than ORIF. With proper techniques, iatrogenic neurological damage can be avoided with both techniques. The PL /SW-R, which relates to safe screw fixation, also demonstrates that screw penetration of at least 60% of the sacral width is achievable regardless of surgical approach. These findings, along with the limited dissection needed for accurate sacral screw placement, suggest that MIO of sacroiliac luxations is a valid alternative to ORIF.
Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) Regulates Sexually Dimorphic Cyp Gene Expression in the Adult Mouse Liver
Authors: Townsend Creasy Kate , Jiang Jieyun , Ren Hui , Peterson Martha L. , Spear Brett T.
Published: May 2016

The mammalian cytochrome P450 (Cyp) gene family encodes a large number of structurally related enzymes that catalyze a variety of metabolic and detoxification reactions. The liver is the primary site of Cyp expression in terms of expression levels and number of expressed genes,
consistent with this organ’s essential role in metabolism of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. Many Cyp genes exhibit sexually dimorphic expression. For example, Cyp2a4 is expressed significantly higher in the adult liver of female mice compared to male mice. An exception to
this pattern is seen in BALB/cJ mice, where male hepatic Cyp2a4 mRNA levels are substantially elevated compared to male mice of other strains. The Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) protein governs the silencing of several genes in the postnatal liver, including α-fetoprotein, H19,
and glypican 3. Zhx2 also regulates numerous hepatic genes that govern lipid homeostasis. We previously showed that the Zhx2 gene is mutated in BALB/cJ mice, which led us to consider whether elevated male hepatic Cyp2a4 levels in this strain are due to this Zhx2 mutation. Using mice
with a conditional Zhx2 deletion, we show here that the absence of Zhx2 in hepatocytes results in increased Cyp2a4 expression in adult male liver. We extend this finding to show that additional Cyp genes are disregulated in the absence of Zhx2. We also show that mRNA levels of Cyp2a4
and several other female-biased Cyp genes are increased, and male-biased Cyp4a12 is decreased in mouse liver tumors. These data indicate that Zhx2 is a novel regulator of sex-biased Cyp gene expression in the normal and diseased liver.
Authors: KIM Sijun , LEE Seongsoo , CHUN Homin , HONG Kappyo
Published: May 2016

This study suggests a joint design using an X-brace bar to identify the stability and structural performance of a precast concrete (PC) beam-column joint design, which may cause problems when used in a segmented PC beam system for a long-span structure. For this, an experimental PC beam-column model at half scale was designed and veri­fied for applicability of X-braced bars in a panel zone. While previous studies suggested the development of a long-span structural system using precast concrete (PC) and described the problems with PC beam-column joints, this study proposes a solution to improve the structural stability and performance of a PC beam-column joint design and conducts analytical verification.
UPPER LIMITS FROM FIVE YEARS OF BLAZAR OBSERVATIONS WITH THE VERITAS CHERENKOV TELESCOPES
Authors: Archambault S. , Archer A. , Benbow W. , Bird R. , Biteau J. , Buchovecky M. , Buckley J. H. , Bugaev V. , Byrum K. , Cerruti M. , Chen X. , Ciupik L. , Connolly M. P. , Cui W. , Eisch J. D. , Errando M. , Falcone A. , Feng Q. , Finley J. P. , Fleischhack H. , Fortin P. , Fortson L. , Furniss A. , Gillanders G. H. , Griffin S. , Grube J. , Gyuk G. , Hütten M. , Håkansson N. , Hanna D. , Holder J. , Humensky T. B. , Johnson C. A. , Kaaret P. , Kar P. , Kelley-Hoskins N. , Kertzman M. , Kieda D. , Krause M. , Krennrich F. , Kumar S. , Lang M. J. , Maier G. , McArthur S. , McCann A. , Meagher K. , Moriarty P. , Mukherjee R. , Nguyen T. , Nieto D. , O’Faoláin de Bhróithe A. , Ong R. A. , Otte A. N. , Park N. , Perkins J. S. , Pichel A. , Pohl M. , Popkow A. , Pueschel E. , Quinn J. , Ragan K. , Reynolds P. T. , Richards G. T. , Roache E. , Rovero A. C. , Santander M. , Sembroski G. H. , Shahinyan K. , Smith A. W. , Staszak D. , Telezhinsky I. , Tucci J. V. , Tyler J. , Vincent S. , Wakely S. P. , Weiner O. M. , Weinstein A. , Williams D. A. , Zitzer B. ,   (the VERITAS collaboration), Fumagalli M. , Prochaska J. X.
Published: May 2016

Between the beginning of its full-scale scientific operations in 2007 and 2012, the VERITAS Cherenkov telescope array observed more than 130 blazars; of these, 26 were detected as very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-ray sources. In this work, we present the analysis results of a sample of 114 undetected objects. The observations constitute a total live-time of ∼570 hr. The sample includes several unidentified Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) sources (located at high Galactic latitude) as well as all the sources from the second Fermi-LAT catalog that are contained within the field of view of the VERITAS observations. We have also performed optical spectroscopy measurements in order to estimate the redshift of some of these blazars that do not have spectroscopic distance estimates. We present new optical spectra from the Kast instrument on the Shane telescope at the Lick observatory for 18 blazars included in this work, which allowed for the successful measurement or constraint on the redshift of four of them. For each of the blazars included in our sample, we provide the flux upper limit in the VERITAS energy band. We also study the properties of the significance distributions and we present the result of a stacked analysis of the data set, which shows a 4σ excess.
SILICON DEPLETION IN THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
Authors: Haris U. , Parvathi V. S. , Gudennavar S. B. , Bubbly S. G. , Murthy J. , Sofia U. J.
Published: May 2016

We report interstellar silicon (Si) depletion and dust-phase column densities of Si along 131 Galactic sight lines using archival observations. The data were corrected for differences in the assumed oscillator strength. This is a much larger sample than previous studies but confirms the majority of results, which state that the depletion of Si is correlated with the average density of hydrogen along the line of sight (

〈
n
(
H
)
〉

) as well as the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form (f(H2)). We also find that the linear part of the extinction curve is independent of Si depletion. Si depletion is correlated with the bump strength (c
3/R

V
) and the FUV curvature (c
4/R

V
) suggesting that silicon plays a significant role in both the 2175 Å bump and the FUV rise.
A CIRCULAR-CYLINDRICAL FLUX-ROPE ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR MAGNETIC CLOUDS
Authors: Nieves-Chinchilla T. , Linton M. G. , Hidalgo M. A. , Vourlidas A. , Savani N. P. , Szabo A. , Farrugia C. , Yu W.
Published: May 2016

We present an analytical model to describe magnetic flux-rope topologies. When these structures are observed embedded in Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) with a depressed proton temperature, they are called Magnetic Clouds (MCs). Our model extends the circular-cylindrical concept of Hidalgo et al. by introducing a general form for the radial dependence of the current density. This generalization provides information on the force distribution inside the flux rope in addition to the usual parameters of MC geometrical information and orientation. The generalized model provides flexibility for implementation in 3D MHD simulations. Here, we evaluate its performance in the reconstruction of MCs in in situ observations. Four Earth-directed ICME events, observed by the Wind spacecraft, are used to validate the technique. The events are selected from the ICME Wind list with the magnetic obstacle boundaries chosen consistently with the magnetic field and plasma in situ observations and with a new parameter (EPP, the Electron Pitch angle distribution Parameter) which quantifies the bidirectionally of the plasma electrons. The goodness of the fit is evaluated with a single correlation parameter to enable comparative analysis of the events. In general, at first glance, the model fits the selected events very well. However, a detailed analysis of events with signatures of significant compression indicates the need to explore geometries other than the circular-cylindrical. An extension of our current modeling framework to account for such non-circular CMEs will be presented in a forthcoming publication.
SPIN–ORBIT ALIGNMENT FOR THREE TRANSITING HOT JUPITERS: WASP-103b, WASP-87b, and WASP-66b†
Authors: Addison B. C. , Tinney C. G. , Wright D. J. , Bayliss D.
Published: May 2016

We have measured the sky-projected spin–orbit alignments for three transiting hot Jupiters, WASP-103b, WASP-87b, and WASP-66b, using spectroscopic measurements of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect, with the CYCLOPS2 optical fiber bundle system feeding the UCLES spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The resulting sky-projected spin–orbit angles of λ = 3° ± 33°, λ = −8° ± 11°, and λ = −4° ± 22° for WASP-103b, WASP-87b, and WASP-66b, respectively, suggest that these three planets are likely on nearly aligned orbits with respect to their host star’s spin axis. WASP-103 is a particularly interesting system as its orbital distance is only 20% larger than its host star’s Roche radius and the planet likely experiences strong tidal effects. WASP-87 and WASP-66 are hot (T
eff = 6450 ± 120 K and T
eff = 6600 ± 150 K, respectively) mid-F stars, making them similar to the majority of stars hosting planets on high-obliquity orbits. Moderate spin–orbit misalignments for WASP-103b and WASP-66b are consistent with our data, but polar and retrograde orbits are not favored for these systems.
THE STELLAR POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE GALACTIC DISK
Authors: Bovy Jo , Rix Hans-Walter , Schlafly Edward F. , Nidever David L. , Holtzman Jon A. , Shetrone Matthew , Beers Timothy C.
Published: May 2016

The spatial structure of stellar populations with different chemical abundances in the Milky Way (MW) contains a wealth of information on Galactic evolution over cosmic time. We use data on 14,699 red-clump stars from the APOGEE survey, covering

, to determine the structure of mono-abundance populations (MAPs)—stars in narrow bins in

and

—accounting for the complex effects of the APOGEE selection function and the spatially variable dust obscuration. We determine that all MAPs with enhanced

are centrally concentrated and are well-described as exponentials with a scale length of

over the whole radial range of the disk. We discover that the surface-density profiles of low-

MAPs are complex: they do not monotonically decrease outwards, but rather display a peak radius ranging from

to

at low

. The extensive radial coverage of the data allows us to measure radial trends in the thickness of each MAP. While high-

MAPs have constant scale heights, low-

MAPs flare. We confirm, now with high-precision abundances, previous results that each MAP contains only a single vertical scale height and that low-

, low-

and high-

, high-

MAPs have intermediate (

) scale heights that smoothly bridge the traditional thin- and thick-disk divide. That the high-

, thick disk components do not flare is strong evidence against their thickness being caused by radial migration. The correspondence between the radial structure and chemical-enrichment age of stellar populations is clear confirmation of the inside-out growth of galactic disks. The details of these relations will constrain the variety of physical conditions under which stars form throughout the MW disk.
El marco legislativo español para la contratación en el país de origen y la cooperación internacional con terceros países en el contexto de la política migratoria de la Unión Europea
Authors: Asín-Cabrera Asunción
Published: May 2016

La afluencia de inmigrantes procedentes de terceros países en el Estado español en busca de nuevas oportunidades, implica la necesidad de regular estos flujos en el ejercicio de sus competencias estatales y en el cumplimiento y respeto de las competencias de la Unión Europea en materia migratoria. Una gestión racional de los flujos migratorios pasa, inevitablemente, por la revisión de las relaciones exteriores del Estado español mediante el refuerzo del diálogo internacional y la celebración de acuerdos bilaterales con terceros países. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo, el análisis de una de las principales vías de acceso al mercado laboral español, como es “la gestión colectiva de contratación en origen” y de la cooperación internacional desarrollada por el Estado español con países extracomunitarios en el ámbito de la regulación y ordenación de flujos migratorios. Además de ello, se abordan otros mecanismos de cooperación propiciados por la Unión Europea, como son las Asociaciones de movilidad, con gran incidencia en la gestión de los flujos migratorios y en la migración laboral procedentes de terceros países y dentro de las cuales, las negociadas con Cabo Verde y Marruecos, revisten una singular importancia para el Estado español.
La institucionalización de la migración laboral en Israel
Authors: Raijman Rebeca , Kemp Adriana
Published: May 2016

El artículo se centra en el proceso de institucionalización del fenómeno de migraciones laborales en Israel. El análisis describe las formas a través de las cuales las regulaciones del estado crearon las condiciones para el surgimiento de una fuerza de trabajo precaria y flexible de extranjeros en el mercado laboral Israelí. Cuatro dimensiones del proceso de institucionalización son analizadas: (1) la fijación de cuotas, otorgamiento de permisos de trabajo y subsidios, (2) el sistema de empleo que regula las relaciones laborales llamado binding, (3) la creación de una infraestructura de agencias de reclutamiento que se benefician de la comodificación del trabajo a través del cobro de tarifas ilegales a los inmigrantes, (4) la implementación del sistema de deportaciones como mecanismo de control y castigo hacia los trabajadores que no respetan las condiciones del contrato.
Trabajadores temporeros de Taiwan y marginación laboral en el contexto del Mercado de trabajo segmentado, 1991-2010
Authors: Lin Ji-Ping
Published: May 2016

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar, desde la perspectiva de la teoría del mercado de trabajo segmentado, el proceso de marginalización de los trabajadores temporales en Taiwán en el período 1991-2010. La reestructuración industrial y el monopolio comercial experimentado durante la década de los noventa han moldeado el mercado de trabajo taiwanés que se caracteriza por nuevas formas de segmentación. Este artículo analiza las formas de marginalización de los trabajadores temporales en general, y de los trabajadores migrantes temporales en particular, a través del uso de indicadores. Las principales conclusiones del artículo son que, como consecuencia de los procesos de desindustrialización y externalización de la economía y de las nuevas formas de monopolio comercial, se ha producido un considerable incremento en el mercado de trabajo taiwanés de los trabajadores temporales -incluidos trabajadores temporales migrantes reclutados a través de programas- con especial incidencia en el caso de las mujeres, los jóvenes y los trabajadores de baja cualificación y en los sectores tradicionales de la manufactura y la electrónica. El artículo también caracteriza la interacción entre los trabajadores taiwaneses y los trabajadores inmigrantes temporales reclutados a través de programas. El artículo concluye que las formas de temporalidad y de marginalización laboral que experimentan este tipo de trabajadores muestran la polarización del mercado de trabajo taiwanés y realzan el efecto de segmentación. El surgimiento de sentimientos de «privación relativa entre este tipo de trabajadores muestran la urgencia de abordar cambios institucionales en el ámbito laboral.
El problema del tiempo en la física: un planteamiento existencial de la ciencia desde Heidegger
Authors: Johnson Felipe
Published: May 2016

Este artículo se propone caracterizar el sentido propio del ejercicio científico desde nociones del pensamiento de Heidegger como la caída y la actitud teórica. En la búsqueda de una vía de acceso que permita dicha tarea, se indagará en la relación que ha tenido la física con el concepto de tiempo. Este será el punto de partida desde el cual se advertirá que su trato particular con el tiempo devela rasgos propios de su modo concreto de ocuparse con la realidad. Así, este artículo planteará cómo es que la concepción de tiempo clásica y sus reformulaciones se fundan, en última instancia, en una relación ocupada del existir que caracterizaría el quehacer científico mismo. Con ello, se realizará una elucidación de la ciencia que rinda cuenta del presente como el horizonte existencial de su despliegue fáctico.
Automatic speaker recognition of spanish siblings: (monozygotic and dizygotic) twins and non-twin brothers
Authors: San Segundo Eugenia , Künzel Hermann
Published: May 2016

The performance of the automatic speaker recognition (ASR) system BatvoxTM (Version 4.1) has been tested with a male population of 24 monozygotic (MZ) twins, 10 dizygotic (DZ) twins, 8 non-twin siblings and 12 unrelated speakers (aged 18–52 with Standard Peninsular Spanish as their mother tongue). Since the cepstral features in which this ASR system is based depend largely on anatomical–physiological foundations, we hypothesized that such features ought to be gene-dependent. Therefore, higher similarity values should be found in MZ twins (100% shared genes) than in DZ twins, in brothers (B) or in a reference population of unrelated speakers (US).
Results corroborated the expected decreasing scale MZ > DZ > B > US since the similarity coefficients yielded by the automatic system for these speakers decreased exactly in the same direction as the kinship degree of the four speaker groups diminishes. This suggests that the system features are to a great extent genetically conditioned and that they are hence useful and robust for comparing speech samples of known and unknown origin, as found in legal cases. Furthermore, the 9.9% EER (Equal Error Rate) obtained when testing MZ pairs lies around the same value (11% EER) found in Künzel (2010) with German twins.
Los problemas teóricos y metodológicos del concepto de exclusión social. Una visión neofuncionalista
Authors: García Blanco José María
Published: May 2016

El éxito de la idea de exclusión social en la política social y las profesiones sociales europeas no guarda correspondencia con su claridad conceptual ni su determinación empírica. La habitual asociación de la exclusión social con la privación económica tiene mucho que ver con este problema, que además dificulta una investigación empírica acorde con los rasgos más importantes que se atribuyen a este fenómeno relacional: la pérdida multidimensional, acumulativa y secuencial de la inclusión social.
El objetivo del artículo es clarificar teóricamente la exclusión social desde un (heterodoxo) punto de vista neofuncionalista y, a partir de él, proponer una metodología de investigación que facilite una aproximación empírica más adaptada a los mencionados rasgos distintivos de este fenómeno social.
Empoderamiento: el santo grial de las campañas de cáncer de mama
Authors: Porroche-Escudero Ana
Published: May 2016

En el presente artículo se reflexiona sobre la conceptualización del término “empoderamiento” en las campañas de concienciación sobre cáncer de mama en España. Se analiza el discurso y el contenido de siete campañas de sensibilización y materiales divulgativos para ilustrar cómo este concepto se ha convertido en el Santo Grial, al despolitizarlo. Se examinan dos problemas fundamentales. El primero es la falta de cuestionamiento crítico de los fines. Raramente se debate si lo que se propone como empoderamiento es realmente empoderador. El segundo es que se acepta la premisa de que el fin justifica los medios –entendidos como el contenido y formato de las campañas. Concluye argumentando que el modelo actual está basado en el modelo tradicional epidemiológico de patrones de comportamiento, que es paternalista y está más centrado en coaccionar a las mujeres a que adopten estilos de vida “saludables”, que en potenciar la capacidad crítica y la autonomía.
La sensibilidad intercultural en relación con las actitudes de aculturación y prejuicio en inmigrantes y sociedad de acogida. Un estudio de caso
Authors: González López Antonio , Ramírez López María Paz
Published: May 2016

El fenómeno de la globalización conlleva importantes implicaciones sociales que justifican la necesidad de estudiar la comunicación intercultural entre los grupos implicados en los procesos migratorios del siglo XXI. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es analizar la relación entre la sensibilidad intercultural y las actitudes de aculturación y prejuicio expresadas por una muestra de inmigrantes y de autóctonos formada por 255 participantes, en la ciudad de Cuenca (España). Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio de carácter exploratorio a través de análisis cuantitativos revelan que tanto los inmigrantes como los autóctonos optan por la asimilación como actitud de aculturación y que los inmigrantes manifiestan un mayor grado de sensibilidad intercultural. Los autóctonos que prefieren la integración muestran menos prejuicio, mientras que los inmigrantes que eligen la integración revelan mayor sensibilidad intercultural. Estos resultados se discuten en comparación con los encontrados en otros estudios con diferentes grupos sociales y culturales.
Apple cultivar preferences byHoplocampa testudinea(Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Burgart Christopher , Hillier Neil K. , Blatt Suzanne
Published: May 2016

The European apple sawfly,Hoplocampa testudinea(Klug) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), is an economically important pest in eastern Canada. Growers can experience significant crop losses as management of this species is difficult because it is present during bloom. As a result, management strategies other than pesticides are required for this pest. Eleven commercial and experimental apple (Malus pumilaMiller; Rosaceae) cultivars were studied to evaluate host resistance as a potential management strategy. Preferences were determined using field surveys of adult visitation, larval infestation of apples, damage at harvest, behavioural bioassays, and electrophysiological tests. Significant differences in visitation and infestation were observed.H. testudineapreferred “Zestar!”, “s23-06-153”, and “Pinova” over other cultivars examined. Comparison with subsequent larval counts and damage also suggest differential performance of larvae in several cases, irrespective of the adult preference. Y-tube bioassays and electroanntennography results indicate that olfaction plays a role in cultivar discrimination for this species.
Economic issues on food safety
Authors: Adinolfi Felice , Di Pasquale Jorgelina , Capitanio Fabian
Published: May 2016

A globalised food trade, with a huge increase of the exchanged volume, extensive production and complex supply chains are contributing towards an increased number of microbiological food safety outbreaks. All of these factors are putting pressure on the stakeholders, either public or private, in terms of rule and control. In fact, this scenario could force manufacturers to be lenient towards food safety control intentionally, or unintentionally, and result in a major foodborne outbreak that causes health problems and economic loss. As a response to emerging calls for the adoption of a systemic approach to food safety, we try to identify and discuss the several related economics issue in this field. Based on an extensive analysis of academic and policy literatures on the economic effects of global environmental change at different stages of the food system, we highlight the main issues involving economists in the field of food safety. In the first part, we assessed the several approaches and problems related to the evaluation of food safety improvements, followed by an overview of drivers of food safety demand in the second part. The third section is devoted to discussing changes occurred at the institutional level in building and managing food safety policies. The last section summarises the main considerations aroused from the work.
Risk assessment terminology: risk communication part 1
Authors: Liuzzo Gaetano , Bentley Stefano , Giacometti Federica , Piva Silvia , Serraino Andrea
Published: May 2016

The paper describes the terminology of risk communication in the view of food safety: the theory of stakeholders, the citizens’ involvement and the community interest and consultation are reported. Different aspects of risk communication (public communication, scientific uncertainty, trust, care, consensus and crisis communication) are discussed.
Bisphenol A in edible part of seafood
Authors: Repossi Adele , Farabegoli Federica , Gazzotti Teresa , Zironi Elisa , Pagliuca Giampiero
Published: May 2016

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made compound, mainly used as a monomer to produce polycarbonate (PC), epoxy resins, non-polymer additives to other plastics, which have many food related applications, such as food storage containers, tableware and internal coating of cans, as well as non-food applications such as electronic equipment, construction materials and medical devices. BPA exposure can occur when the residual monomer migrates into packaged food and beverages. Moreover, due to the ubiquitous presence of this compound, the general population can be exposed to environmental sources such as water, air and soil. Many studies have investigated the potential health hazards associated with BPA, which can elicit toxic and cancerogenic effects on humans. According to the EFSA opinion, diet is considered to be the main source of exposure, especially canned food; moreover, among non-canned food, meat and fish products have the highest levels of BPA contamination. This review focuses on BPA contamination in seafood, analysing worldwide literature (from January 2010 to October 2015) on BPA contamination of edible parts. The authors try to identify differences between canned and non-canned seafood in literature, and gaps in the state of art. The data evaluated underline that all concentrations for both canned and non-canned seafood were below the specific migration limit set by the EC Directive for BPA in food. Moreover the canned seafood is more contaminated than the non-canned one.
Monitoring the freezing point of buffalo milk
Authors: Pesce Antonella , Salzano Caterina , De Felice Anna , Garofalo Francesca , Liguori Salvatore , De Santo Annunziata , Palermo Pierpaolo , Guarino Achille
Published: May 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the basic freezing point of buffalo milk. Bulk milk samples were collected from buffalo and cattle farms in Caserta area from 2008 to 2014. The analysis involved a total of 1886 buffalo milk samples and 1711 bovine milk samples. These were also tested for fat, protein and lactose contents by means of infrared spectrometry. The freezing point was determined by means of a thermistor cryoscope. Data underwent statistical analysis. Our research showed an average freezing point of -0.528°C for buffalo milk and - 0.522°C for bovine milk. Given the lack of data on the freezing point of buffalo milk, our study provides the first indication of a basic freezing point of the milk of this species in Italy.
Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus in the clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve, 1850) from Emilia Romagna and Sardinia, Italy
Authors: Passalacqua Pier Luca , Zavatta Emanuele , Bignami Giorgia , Serraino Andrea , Serratore Patrizia
Published: May 2016

Marine vibrios, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae are responsible of the majority of food-borne human infections by consumption of bivalve shellfish. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the occurrence of these bacteria, and their potential pathogenicity, in the Manila clam R. philippinarum from Emilia Romagna (ER) and Sardinia (SR) regions, Italy. Isolation was performed on CHROMagarTM vibrio with subculture on (thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose) Agar and m-modified-cellobiose-polymyxin bcolistin (-CPC) Agar. Suspected strains were purified, biochemically characterized and genotyped by simplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specie-specific and pathogenic gene markers: V. parahaemolyticus (toxRP, tdh and trh); V. vulnificus (vvhA, hsp, vcgC, vcgE, CPS operon allele 1, CPS operon allele 2, 16s-rRNA operon allele A, 16s-rRNA operon allele B; V. cholerae (toxRC, hlya, tcpI, tcpA, ctxA, ctxB, stn/sto). Moreover a multiplex PCR was applied to the SR bivalve shellfish, for the simultaneous detection of the three targets directly on homogenate samples, targeting the species-specific gene for V. cholerae (toxRC), V. parahaemolyticus (toxRP) and V. vulnificus (vvhA). As a result of phenotyping and genotyping of isolates, bivalve shellfish from ER resulted positive for V. parahaemolyticus (27.8%) and V. vulnificus (10.1%), but negative for V. cholerae. Shellfish from SR resulted positive for V. parahaemolyticus (30.3%), V. vulnificus (6.1%) and V. cholerae (3%). No significant differences emerged between the two areas (P>0.05).
Cancer immunoediting and dioxin-activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor: a missing link in the shift toward tumor immunoescape?
Authors: Ridolfi Ruggero , Guidoboni Massimo , Ridolfi Laura
Published: May 2016

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a member of the PAS protein family, is found in organisms as diverse as Drosophila melano­gaster, nematodes, and mammals. While several reviews have reported that AhR, once activated by agonist ligands, causes long-term effects such as modification of cell growth through cell cycle control, there is also recent evidence of its decisive role in immunosuppression. The most widely studied AhR agonist is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, which binds AhR with the highest known affinity, leading to profound suppression of both humoral and cellular immune responses, with praecox thymus involution, consequent thymocyte loss, and induction of T-cell apoptosis. Dioxin-AhR binding causes a decline in the number of dendritic cells and enhances apoptosis following their inappropriate activation. Dioxin-mediated activation of AhR also has a direct influence on the expansion of regula­tory T-cells CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ (T-regs) and an adverse affect on CD8+ T-cell responses. Dioxin released from industrial and waste incinerators over the last few decades has caused widespread contamination of food, leading to its accumulation in fatty tissue in animals and humans. The elimination half-life of dioxin in humans (7-10 years) may favor the potentially continuous and long-lasting activation of AhR, leading to perpetual immune suppression and facilitating the onset, growth, and diffusion of tumors, especially in young people. In the cancer immunoediting hypoth­esis, which subdivides the relationship between tumor and immune system into three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape, it is thought that dioxin accumulation may cause an inevitable shift toward tumor escape.
MicroRNAs in mouse models of lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Zanesi Nicola A. O. , Pekarsky Yuri , Trapasso Francesco , Calin George , Croce Carlo M.
Published: May 2016

 The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has revealed a new layer of gene expression regulation that affects many normal and pathologic biological systems. Among the malignancies affected by the dysregulation of miRNAs there are cancers of lymphoid origin, in which miRNAs are thought to have tumor suppressive or tumor promoting activities, depending on the nature of their specific targets. In the last 4-5 years, the experimental field that provided the deepest insights into the in vivo biology of miRNAs is that of mouse modeling in which transgenic and knockout animals mimic, respectively, over-expression or down-regulation of specific miRNAs involved in human leukemia/lymphoma. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of lymphoid malignancies based on the natural and engineered mouse models of three different miRNAs, miR-15a/16-1 cluster, miR-155, and miR-17-92 cluster.
 
Body fluid micro(mi)RNAs as biomarkers for human cancer
Authors: Sauter Edward R. , Patel Neel
Published: May 2016

Accepted tools for early cancer detection run the gamut from Pap staining to detect cervical cancer detection to colonoscopy and biopsy for colorectal cancer detection to imaging (mammogram and, in high risk women, magnetic resonance imaging) and biopsy for breast cancer detection. These modalities use standard cytopathologic assessment to determine if disease is present. There are few biologic (DNA, RNA, protein or carbohydrate) markers (biomarkers) that are in general use for the detection of any cancer, or to identify individuals at increased cancer risk. Biomarkers have been identified that provide information to physicians on disease prognosis. Panels of biomarkers are being developed to predict response to treatment in individuals with known cancer, and some are currently in use. Nonethless, there is a great need to identify accurate biomarkers for the early detection of a new cancer, to identify individuals at increased cancer risk, and among those with cancer, to determine their likelihood of responding to a given treatment, risk of disease relapse and death. Micro (mi)RNAs hold promise as biomarkers for determining at risk individuals, for early cancer detection, and among those with cancer, to assess how likely a person is to respond a given treatment, their risk of disease recurrence and death.
Online resources for microRNA analysis
Authors: Alexiou Panagiotis , Maragkakis Manolis , Hatzigeorgiou Artemis G
Published: May 2016

The use of online tools for bioinformatics analyses is becoming increasingly widespread. Resources specific to the field of microRNAs are available, varying in scope and usability. Online tools are the most useful for casual as well as power users since they need no installation, are hardware independent and are used mostly through graphic user interfaces and links to external sources. Here, we present an overview of useful online resources that have to do with microRNA genomics, gene finding, target prediction and functional analysis.
Role of microRNAs in solid tumors
Authors: Hamano Rie , Ishii Hideshi , Miyata Hiroshi , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: May 2016

Accumulating experimental evidence indicates that microRNAs play important roles in various biological processes, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, metabolism and apoptosis. In addition, several reports concluded that altered expression of specific microRNA genes contributes to the initiation and progression of cancer. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about aberrant expression of various microRNAs in human solid cancers (e.g., lung, breast, and gastric cancers), their target proteins, and the relationship between their expression and response to chemotherapies. We also review the potential for using microRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and cancer therapy. The development of treatment strategies against human solid cancers based on the profile and/or certain features of microRNAs is promising.
P53 and microRNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Bloehdorn Johannes , Langer Christian , Döhner Hartmut , Zenz Thorsten , Stilgenbauer Stephan
Published: May 2016

There has been considerable progress in characterising chronic lymphocytic leukemia with respect to the underlying biology and the corresponding clinical presentation. Most patients with CLL live for years without the need for therapy. This does not hold true for patients that exhibit inactivation of the tumour suppressor p53 or, possibly, its pathway members. Deletions of chromosome 17p and mutations of TP53 are the main characteristic of aggressive and refractory disease. In this review we will outline the current understanding of mechanisms known to contribute to dysfunctional p53 and its connection to microRNAs.
The effect of in vitro exposure to antisense oligonucleotides on macrophage morphology and function
Authors: Brasey Ann , Igue Raouf , Djemame Loubna , Séguin Serge , Renzi Paolo , Ferrari Nicolay , Seguin Rosanne
Published: May 2016

Antisense oligonucleotides (AON) delivered via inhalation are in drug development for respiratory diseases. In rodents and monkeys, repeated exposure to high doses of inhaled phosphorothioate (PS) AON can lead to microscopic changes in the lungs, including accumulation of alveolar macrophages in the lower airway that have a foamy appearance. The functional consequences that result from this morphological change are unclear as there is controversy whether the vacuoles/inclusion bodies reflect normal clearance of the inhaled AON or are early indicators of lung toxicity. The morphological and functional responses of macrophage to PS AON were characterized in vitro using the comparator drug amiodarone, as a known inducer of foamy macrophages. Morphological changes of increased vacuolization with the presence of lamellated structures were observed in macrophages in response to both amiodarone and AON treatment. Functional responses to the drugs clearly differed with amiodarone treatment leading to apoptosis of cells and cell death, release of proinflammatory mediators IL-1RA, MIP-1α and TNFα, decrease in IP-10, a cytokine shown to be involved in protection against pulmonary fibrosis and altered phagocytosis capacity of the cells. In contrast, AON in concentrations up to 30 μM, had no effect on cell viability or apoptosis, had minimal effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased IP-10 levels and did not alter the phagocytic capacity of the cells. Exposure of macrophages to AON in vitro, led to morphological changes of increased vacuolization, but did not lead to functional consequences which were observed with another vacuolization-inducing drug, suggesting that the in vivo phenotypic changes observed following inhalation of AON may be consistent with a clearance mechanism and not an activation or impairment of macrophages.
High mobility group A-interacting proteins in cancer: focus on chromobox protein homolog 7, homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 and PATZ
Authors: Fedele Monica , Pierantoni Giovanna Maria , Pallante Pierlorenzo , Fusco Alfredo
Published: May 2016

The High Mobility Group A (HMGA) proteins, a family of DNA architectural factors, by interacting with different proteins play crucial roles in neoplastic transformation of a wide range of tissues. Therefore, the search for HMGA-interacting partners was carried out by several laboratories in order to investigate the mechanisms underlying HMGA-dependent tumorigenesis. Three of the several HMGA-binding proteins are discussed in this review. These are the Chromobox family protein (chromobox protein homolog 7, CBX7), the homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) and the POZ/domain and Kruppel zinc finger family member, PATZ. All of them play a critical role in tumorigenesis, and may also be independent markers of cancer. Their activities are linked to cell cycle, apoptosis and senescence. In this review, we discuss the properties of each protein, including their effect on HMGA1 functions, and propose a model accounting for how their activities might be coordinated.
A new entropy model for RNA: part II. Persistence-related entropic contributions to RNA secondary structure free energy calculations
Authors: Dawson Wayne , Yamamoto Kenji , Shimizu Kentaro , Kawai Gota
Published: May 2016

In previous work, we have shown that the entropy of a folded RNA molecule can be divided into local and global contributions using the cross-linking entropy (CLE) model, where, in the case of RNA, the cross- links are the base-pair stacking interactions. The local contribution to the CLE is revealed in the Kuhn length (a measure of the stiffness of the RNA). The Kuhn length acts as a scaling parameter. When the size of the system is rescaled, the relationship between local and global free energy must be renormalized to reflect this rescaling. In this renormalization process, the Kuhn length increases, the local entropy also increases due to freezing out of the local conformational degrees of freedom. At the same time, as the number of degrees of freedom decrease, there is a significant reduction in the global entropy. Here we present a method, based on the concepts of renormalization theory, to quantitatively estimate the size of the contribution from the local entropy as a function of the Kuhn length. The local entropy correction is used to predict the current empirically derived constant in the Jacobson-Stockmayer equation. The variation in the Kuhn length is shown to be largely influenced by the length of the double-stranded RNA stems formed in the secondary structure of folded RNA. This result is used to test the resulting entropy under a variable Kuhn length in stem-loop structures. Comparisons between a variable Kuhn length and a static Kuhn length on a short stem-loop of RNA are also examined. The model is quite general and is also directly applicable to protein structure and folding problems.
A modified Phenol-chloroform extraction method for isolating circulating cell free DNA of tumor patients
Authors: Hufnagl Clemens , Stöcher Markus , Moik Martin , Geisberger Roland , Greil Richard
Published: May 2016

Searching for new cancer biomarkers, circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become an appealing target of interest as an elevated level of cfDNA has been detected in the circulation of cancer patients in comparison with healthy controls. Since cfDNA can be isolated from the circulation and other body fluids of patients without harming their physical condition, cfDNA is becoming a promising candidate as a novel non-invasive biomarker for cancer. The challenge in the diagnostic analysis of cfDNA is its very low presence in human plasma/serum and its partially strong fragmentation. Here we evaluated a modified phenol/chloroform extraction method for the isolation of cfDNA and compared it with published standard methods for cfDNA isolation.
Chronic kidney disease in Nigeria: an evaluation of the spatial accessibility to healthcare for diagnosed cases in Edo State
Authors: Oviasu Osaretin , Rigby Janette E. , Ballas Dimitris
Published: May 2016

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem in Nigeria, presenting challenges to the nation’s health and economy. This study evaluates the accessibility to healthcare in Edo State of CKD patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2009. Using cost analysis techniques within a geographical information system, an estimated travel time to the hospital was used to examine the spatial accessibility of diagnosed patients to available CKD healthcare in the state. The results from the study indicated that although there was an annual rise in the number of diagnosed cases, there were no significant changes in the proportion of patients that were diagnosed at the last stage of CKD. However, there were indications that the travel time to the hospital for CKD treatment might be a contributing factor to the number of diagnosed CKD cases. This implies that the current structure for CKD management within the state might not be adequate.