bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ground improvement for embankments on soft ground
Authors: Springman Sarah M. , Laue Jan , Gautray Jean , Askarinejad Amin
Published: March 2014

Constructing embankments on soft ground to adhere to the requirements of modern codes of practice is challenging without ground improvement. An overview is presented on the types of columnar inclusions and embankment base reinforcement in terms of load–settlement behaviour, together with calculation procedures using partial safety factors. These are based on the Swiss Code 267, Switzerland's national annex to Eurocode 7; they are relevant in the project phase and in understanding the general behaviour of the whole system. Three-dimensional inclusions have been incorporated in a two-dimensional slip circle analysis. Simple assumptions are validated against a physical model for the serviceability limit state, with good agreement. First design approximations may therefore be calculated in this way.
Acid Demineralization Susceptibility of Dental Enamel Submitted to Different Bleaching Techniques and Fluoridation Regimens
Authors: Salomão DLF , Santos DM , Nogueira RD , Palma-Dibb RG , Geraldo-Martins VR
Published: March 2014

The aim of the current study was to assess the acid demineralization susceptibility of bleached dental enamel submitted to different fluoride regimens. One hundred bovine enamel blocks (6×6×3 mm) were randomly divided into 10 groups (n=10). Groups 1 and 2 received no bleaching. Groups 3 to 6 were submitted to an at-home bleaching technique using 6% hydrogen peroxide (HP; G3 and G4) or 10% carbamide peroxide (CP; G5 and G6). Groups 7 to 10 were submitted to an in-office bleaching technique using 35% HP (G7 and G8) or 35% CP (G9 and G10). During bleaching, a daily fluoridation regimen of 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) solution was performed on groups 3, 5, 7, and 9, while weekly fluoridation with a 2% NaF gel was performed on groups 4, 6, 8, and 10. The samples in groups 2 to 10 were pH cycled for 14 consecutive days. The samples from all groups were then assessed by cross-sectional Knoop microhardness at different depths from the outer enamel surface. The average Knoop hardness numbers (KHNs) were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests (α=0.05). The comparison between groups 1 and 2 showed that the demineralization method was effective. The comparison among groups 2 to 6 showed the same susceptibility to acid demineralization, regardless of the fluoridation method used. However, the samples from groups 8 and 10 showed more susceptibility to acid demineralization when compared with group 2 (p<0.05). Groups 7 and 9 provided similar results to group 2, but the results of those groups were different when compared with groups 8 and 10. The use of 6% HP and 10% CP associated with daily or weekly fluoridation regimens did not increase the susceptibility of enamel to acid demineralization. However, the use of 35% HP and 35% CP must be associated with a daily fluoridation regimen, otherwise the in-office bleaching makes the bleached enamel more susceptible to acid demineralization.
Estrogen and memory system bias in females across the lifespan
Authors: Hussain Dema , Shams Waqqas , Brake Wayne
Published: March 2014

Studies in both rodents and humans have made much progress in shedding light on how fluctuations in ovarian hormones can affect memory in women across the lifespan. Specifically, advances in neuroscience have identified multiple memory systems that are each mediated by different brain areas. Two memory systems used to navigate an environment are ‘place’ and ‘response’ memory. They are defined as either using an allocentric strategy: using a spatial or cognitive map of the surroundings, or an egocentric strategy: using habitual-turns/movements, respectively. Studies in neuroendocrinology have shown that estrogen levels can bias a female to use one memory system over another to solve a task, such that high estrogen levels are associated with using place memory and low levels with using response memory. Furthermore, recent advances in identifying and localizing estrogen receptors in the rodent brain are uncovering which brain regions are affected by estrogen and providing insight into how hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause might affect which memory system is facilitated or impaired in women at different life stages. These studies can help point the way to improving cognitive health in women.
Brain-machine interfaces: an overview
Authors: Lebedev Mikhail
Published: March 2014

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) hold promise to treat neurological disabilities by linking intact brain circuitry to assistive devices, such as limb prostheses, wheelchairs, artificial sensors, and computers. BMIs have experienced very rapid development in recent years, facilitated by advances in neural recordings, computer technologies and robots. BMIs are commonly classified into three types: sensory, motor and bidirectional, which subserve motor, sensory and sensorimotor functions, respectively. Additionally, cognitive BMIs have emerged in the domain of higher brain functions. BMIs are also classified as noninvasive or invasive according to the degree of their interference with the biological tissue. Although noninvasive BMIs are safe and easy to implement, their information bandwidth is limited. Invasive BMIs hold promise to improve the bandwidth by utilizing multichannel recordings from ensembles of brain neurons. BMIs have a broad range of clinical goals, as well as the goal to enhance normal brain functions.
Synthesis and phosphorescent properties of the copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole, methyl methacrylate and iridium complex
Authors: Wang Wen , Zhou Minglu , Liang Luying , Lin Meijuan , Ling Qidan
Published: March 2014

The copolymers containing carbazole unit and iridium complexes, such as (Ir(bpy)2Cl, Ir(mbpy)2Cl and Ir(Brbpy)2Cl, were synthesized via radical copolymerization of N-vinylcarbazole, methyl methacrylate and iridium complex. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, respectively. According to the results, the copolymers (Ir(Brbpy)2Cl/PVK and Ir(mbpy)2Cl/PVK) exhibit yellow phosphorescence with an emission peak at around 553 nm under UV-visible light in the solid state. The results also reveal almost complete energy transfer from the host carbazole segments to the guest Ir complex in the copolymer film when the Ir content reaches 1.0 wt.%. The synthesized copolymers are good candidates as blue or yellow phosphorescent materials for PLED applications.
New data on the parasites of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
Authors: Rolbiecki Leszek , Izdebska Joanna
Published: March 2014

The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) is a typical representative of carnivorous mammals from the family of mustelids (Mustelidae) which are closely connected with aquatic ecosystems. Parasitofauna of the otter is poorly identified, e.g. only two specimens have been examined in Poland for the presence of parasites. Currently, three species of parasites were found in one otter: the nematode Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Goeze, 1782), the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus ranae (Schrank, 1788) and the skin mite from the Demodecidae family. Demodex sp. is a new species to science, while O. filiformis and Demodex sp. are new parasites for the otter throughout the species range. Furthermore, A. ranae was found for the first time in the otter from the area of Poland. The recorded helminths are typical parasites of amphibians and reptiles, and their occurrence in the Eurasian otter may result from postcyclic transmission from primary hosts.
Analysis of selected surface water components in the town of Siedlce, Poland
Authors: Kluska Mariusz , Marciniuk-Kluska Anna
Published: March 2014

The paper presents results of a research study into levels of selected surface water components in Siedlce, Poland. Water was sampled in the Muchawka Reservoir and the Muchawka River in March, July and November 2012. Two techniques were applied in the study: isotachophoresis and atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis results of water sampled in the Muchawka Reservoir indicate that they are borderline compliant with standards for the Class 1 surface waters. On the other hand, the Muchawka River samples were found to be out of any quality class.
Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in tree hole habitats in Slovakia
Authors: Oboňa Jozef , Dominiak Patrycja
Published: March 2014

The water-filled tree hole fauna of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Slovakia is documented for the first time. Three Culicoides Latreille and two Dasyhelea Kieffer species were reared from these habitats. Epidemiological significance of C. obsoletus (Meigen, 1818) is briefly discussed.
The Pinnularia genus in south-eastern Poland with consideration of rare and new taxa to Poland
Authors: Noga Teresa , Peszek Łukasz , Stanek-Tarkowska Jadwiga , Pajączek Anita
Published: March 2014

In the studies conducted in 2007–2012 in south-eastern Poland, 56 diatom taxa were found from the Pinnularia genus. Pinnularia brebissonii (Kützing) Rabenhorst, P. obscura Krasske, P. viridiformis Krammer, P. lundii Hustedt, and P. viridis (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg occurred at most of the investigated sites. Eighteen taxa were considered as new to Polish flora. Some taxa are very rare in Poland and Europe and are found in only a few localities. Eight taxa are listed on the Polish Red List of Algae, including six taxa classified as endangered (E): P. nobilis (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg, P. nodosa (Ehrenberg) W. Smith, P. subrupestris Hantzsch, P. schoenfelderii Krammer, P. subgibba Krammer and P. viridiformis Krammer.
Study of Faunal Diversity of Laxmipur Pond at Raxaul Area of Indo-Himalayan Range of Bihar
Authors: Roy Mandip Kumar , Deo Amaresh Kumar , Rani Akriti
Published: March 2014

North Bihar exhibits a wide range of wet lands and net of water bodies due to its geographical distribution and climatic condition and has become a good source of income through fish culture and variety of important cultivable crops. The fish collected from water body are represented by 8 orders and 12 families, 18 genera and 23 species. During the entire period of investigation, altogether 32 genera of phytoplankton consisting of chlorophyceae, cyanophyceae, euglenophyceae and bascillariophyceae, etc. In the present study, Zooplankton are represented by 05 genera of 7 copepoda, 06 genera of ostracoda. The density of phytoplankton was found to be higher than Zooplankton. The population of plankton was observed to be low during rainy season.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i1.10003Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(1): 93-96
Biomonitoring of Pollution by Microalgae Community in Aquatic System with Special Reference to Water Quality of River Kolong, Nagaon, Assam, India
Authors: Buragohain Bharat Banti , Yasmin Farishta
Published: March 2014

With growing urbanization and industrialization India faces the challenge of providing clean and safe drinking water. In the name of economic growth most rivers and streams are turning into sewers. Pollution effect is equally damaging both biotic and abiotic components. Microalgae play an interesting role in forecasting changing environment. Pollution in aquatic environment like changing pH; addition of oil, heavy metals; increase of organic matter and chemical fertilizers can be traced by studying algal community. Abundant growth of particular algae, drastic change in species diversity and depletion of long inhabitant algal flora indicates the pollution in a very initial stage. In the present study, attempt has been made to point out some indicator algae of Kolong River which is getting polluted day by day and in placed among the 71 most polluted stretch of river in the country. In our investigation, we have found microalgae mainly from groups Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Desmidiaceae which can be identified as indicator species in biomonitoring purpose.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i1.9345Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 2(1): 45-49
Hepatoprotective Activity of Herbal Preparation (Hp-4) against Alcohol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Padmanabhan P. , Jangle S. N.
Published: March 2014

Free radicals include both Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS).When free radicals are produced in a regulated manner in a healthy human body it is scavenged efficiently by antioxidant defense system. But excess generation of pro-oxidants by continuous chain reaction in the form of ROS and RNS cause several human diseases. The shift of the balance in the favour of pro-oxidants results in a condition called “oxidative stress”. Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver to generate ROS and RNS, leading to diseases such as cirrhosis, fatty liver and chronic hepatitis. Alcohol induced damage is associated with oxidative stress. The excess generation of prooxidants and reduced antioxidant levels provide an effective model of Hepatotoxicity which is noteworthy. Recent trend is to discover polyherbal formulation of medicinal plants which have hepatoprotective function. In the present study 80% alcoholic extract of leaves of Aloe vera, Bacopa monniera, Moringa oleifera and rhizome of Zingiber officinale were utilized to prepare Herbal Preparation or HP-4.Further the hepatoprotective effects of HP-4 was tested in alcohol induced Hepatotoxicity in mice. Silymarin is a well known hepatoprotective drug was used as a standard for comparison. Biochemical and histopathological studies provided ample evidence that HP-4 provided a hepatoprotective role in alcohol induced hepatotoxicity which was comparable to drug Silymarin. The presence of phytochemicals in HP-4 provided a synergistic, supra-additive and co-operative effects in the hepatoprotective function in alcohol induced hepatotoxicity mice model. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i1.9346 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 2(1): 50-58
Seasonal Variation of Arsenic Concentration in Ground Water of Nawalparasi District of Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Rajib Kumar , Regmi Dipak , Kafle Bhim P.
Published: March 2014

Ground water of southern part of Nepal, also known as Terai region where population density is relatively very high, has been contaminated with poisonous element Arsenic. This study has been carried out to determine variability of the level of arsenic contamination in groundwater with seasons of Pathkhauli village of Devgaun VDC and Mahuwa village of Manari VDC in Nawalparasi district, the western Terai district. Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (HG-AAS) and UV-visible Spectrophotometry was used for analysis. Total 55 groundwater samples in post-monsoon season and 45 groundwater samples in pre-monsoon season were collected. The level of arsenic contamination in groundwater was found above the Nepal interim standard of 50 ppb. Of the total 42 water samples from each pre- and post- monsoon seasons analyzed, 28 water samples (67.67%) showed higher As-concentration in pre-monsoon season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i1.9477   Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 2(1): 59-63
An Investigation on principle biochemical components, photosynthetic pigments, nucleic acid and enzymatic activities of axenic culture of Scytonema sp. treated with two PAHs: Acenapthene and Fluoranthene
Authors: Patel Miral , J.I Nirmal Kumar , Tiwari K. K.
Published: March 2014

The fresh water cyanobacteria Scytonema sp. was cultivated in a laboratory scale in the presence of various concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 20 ppm) of two polycyclic hydrocarbons in order to assess the influence of the pollutant on the growth and certain physiological responses of the cyanobacteria. The algal cells were analyzed for chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycobilliproteins, proteins, amino acid, nucliec acid, C/N ratio and elemental composition, carbohydrate and different enzymes at four days interval up to 16 days. According to our results, Scytonema sp. was significantly affected by the pollution with regard to the different physiological parameters examined, and this significance may be negative, positive or variable. The effect of the pollutant on carbohydrate, and the total amount of amino acids, proteins was negative, however, the composition of the phenol increase with raise in PAHs concentration. A positive effect of the pollutant on cellular C/N ratio was observed up to certain doses of PAHs.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i1.9784Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(1): 34-40
The bedrock topography of Starbuck Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula, as determined by radio-echo soundings and flow modeling
Authors: Farinotti Daniel , King Edward C. , Albrecht Anika , Huss Matthias , Gudmundsson G. Hilmar
Published: March 2014

A glacier-wide ice-thickness distribution and bedrock topography is presented for Starbuck Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula. The results are based on 90 km of ground-based radio-echo sounding lines collected during the 2012/13 field season. Cross-validation with ice-thickness measurements provided by NASA's IceBridge project reveals excellent agreement. Glacier-wide estimates are derived using a model that calculates distributed ice thickness, calibrated with the radio-echo soundings. Additional constraints are obtained from in situ ice flow-speed measurements and the surface topography. The results indicate a reverse-sloped bed extending from a riegel occurring ~ 5 km upstream of the current grounding line. The deepest parts of the glacier are as much as 500 m below sea level. The calculated total volume of 80.7 ± 7.2 km3corresponds to an average ice thickness of 312 ± 30 m.
Multichannel surface clutter suppression: East Antarctica P-band SAR ice sounding in the presence of grating lobes
Authors: Bekaert David , Gebert Nicolas , Lin Chung-Chi , Hélière Florence , Dall Jørgen , Kusk Anders , Savstrup Kristensen Steen
Published: March 2014

Ice sounding with radar is a well-established technique for the retrieval of ice depth, and provides information on ice structures and layering. Airborne radar ice sounders suffer from off-nadir surface clutter that masks the signal from bedrock and ice layers with unwanted but simultaneously received surface reflections. This is of importance for future satellite ice-sounding missions, as the spaceborne geometry leads to strong surface clutter even for deep subsurface returns. This paper presents analysis and comparison of different clutter-suppression techniques applied to data acquired with the European Space Agency's P-band POLarimetric Airborne Radar Ice Sounder (POLARIS). The 4 m long antenna of POLARIS enables simultaneous reception of up to four across-track channels. It was operated in 2011 over Antarctica at a high flight altitude of 3200 m. Different coherent weighting techniques of the receive channels were used to suppress the surface ‘clutter’. However, with a channel spacing of 1.4 times the wavelength, the grating lobe imposes a limitation to the off-nadir angular range in which clutter can be effectively attenuated. Results of ice sounding over Jutulstraumen glacier are described, where we demonstrate a clutter suppression of up to 10 dB.
Mapping and interpretation of bed-reflection power from a surge-type polythermal glacier, Yukon, Canada
Authors: Wilson Nat J. , Flowers Gwenn E. , Mingo Laurent
Published: March 2014

Bed-reflection power (BRP) from ice-penetrating radar has been used to make inferences about subglacial conditions and processes, yet is subject to confounding influences, including englacial attenuation and bed geometry. We use radar data collected in 2008–11 from a polythermal glacier to compute BRP with the aim of relating BRP to basal conditions. We examine the relationship between raw BRP and ice thickness, apparent bed slope and thickness of the englacial scattering layer as a proxy for internal reflection power. We then analyze a corrected form of the BRP with a graph-segmentation algorithm to delineate areas of high and low reflection power. Low corrected BRP values are found near the glacier terminus where the bed is most likely to be cold, while high corrected BRP is found in the region thought to be undergoing a slow surge. We find a spatial correlation between high BRP and high values of subglacial hydraulic upstream area, suggestive of a hydrological control on BRP. Whereas in dominantly cold glaciers BRP seems to distinguish cold from temperate regions of the bed, BRP in a polythermal glacier with a substantial volume of temperate ice may be a more complex product of thermal and hydrological conditions.
A Dynamic Dark Information Energy Consistent with Planck Data
Authors: Gough Michael
Published: March 2014

The 2013 cosmology results from the European Space Agency Planck spacecraft provide new limits to the dark energy equation of state parameter. Here we show that Holographic Dark Information Energy (HDIE), a dynamic dark energy model, achieves an optimal fit to the published datasets where Planck data is combined with other astrophysical measurements. HDIE uses Landauer’s principle to account for dark energy by the energy equivalent of information, or entropy, of stellar heated gas and dust. Combining Landauer’s principle with the Holographic principle yields an equation of state parameter determined solely by star formation history, effectively solving the “cosmic coincidence problem”. While HDIE mimics a cosmological constant at low red-shifts, z < 1, the small difference from a cosmological constant expected at higher red-shifts will only be resolved by the next generation of dark energy instrumentation. The HDIE model is shown to provide a viable alternative to the main cosmological constant/vacuum energy and scalar field/ quintessence explanations.
Short-Term Electrical Peak Demand Forecasting in a Large Government Building Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Grant Jason , Eltoukhy Moataz , Asfour Shihab
Published: March 2014

The power output capacity of a local electrical utility is dictated by its customers’ cumulative peak-demand electrical consumption. Most electrical utilities in the United States maintain peak-power generation capacity by charging for end-use peak electrical demand; thirty to seventy percent of an electric utility’s bill. To reduce peak demand, a real-time energy monitoring system was designed, developed, and implemented for a large government building. Data logging, combined with an application of artificial neural networks (ANNs), provides short-term electrical load forecasting data for controlled peak demand. The ANN model was tested against other forecasting methods including simple moving average (SMA), linear regression, and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSplines) and was effective at forecasting peak building electrical demand in a large government building sixty minutes into the future. The ANN model presented here outperformed the other forecasting methods tested with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.9% as compared to the SMA, linear regression, and MARSplines MAPEs of 7.7%, 17.3%, and 7.0% respectively. Additionally, the ANN model realized an absolute maximum error (AME) of 8.2% as compared to the SMA, linear regression, and MARSplines AMEs of 26.2%, 45.1%, and 22.5% respectively.
Experimental Study on Influence of Pitch Motion on the Wake of a Floating Wind Turbine Model
Authors: Rockel Stanislav , Camp Elizabeth , Schmidt Jonas , Peinke Joachim , Cal Raúl , Hölling Michael
Published: March 2014

Wind tunnel experiments were performed, where the development of the wake of a model wind turbine was measured using stereo Particle Image Velocimetry to observe the influence of platform pitch motion. The wakes of a classical bottom fixed turbine and a streamwise oscillating turbine are compared. Results indicate that platform pitch creates an upward shift in all components of the flow and their fluctuations. The vertical flow created by the pitch motion as well as the reduced entrainment of kinetic energy from undisturbed flows above the turbine result in potentially higher loads and less available kinetic energy for a downwind turbine. Experimental results are compared with four wake models. The wake models employed are consistent with experimental results in describing the shapes and magnitudes of the streamwise velocity component of the wake for a fixed turbine. Inconsistencies between the model predictions and experimental results arise in the floating case particularly regarding the vertical displacement of the velocity components of the flow. Furthermore, it is found that the additional degrees of freedom of a floating wind turbine add to the complexity of the wake aerodynamics and improved wake models are needed, considering vertical flows and displacements due to pitch motion.
Regression Models for Log-Normal Data: Comparing Different Methods for Quantifying the Association between Abdominal Adiposity and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Gustavsson Sara , Fagerberg Björn , Sallsten Gerd , Andersson Eva
Published: March 2014

We compared six methods for regression on log-normal heteroscedastic data with respect to the estimated associations with explanatory factors (bias and standard error) and the estimated expected outcome (bias and confidence interval). Method comparisons were based on results from a simulation study, and also the estimation of the association between abdominal adiposity and two biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (inflammation marker,) and Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (marker of insulin resistance). Five of the methods provide unbiased estimates of the associations and the expected outcome; two of them provide confidence intervals with correct coverage.
Length of Stay for Mental and Behavioural Disorders Postpartum in Primiparous Mothers: A Cohort Study
Authors: Xu Fenglian , Austin Marie-Paule , Reilly Nicole , Hilder Lisa , Sullivan Elizabeth
Published: March 2014

Background: Previous research showed that there was a significant increase in psychiatric hospital admission of postpartum mothers. The aim of the current study is to describe the length of hospital stays and patient days for mental and behavioural disorders (MBD) of new mothers in the first year after birth. Method: This was a cohort study based on linked population data between the New South Wales (NSW) Midwives Data Collection (MDC) and the NSW Admitted Patients Data Collection (APDC). The study population included primiparous mothers aged from 18 to 44 who gave birth between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2005. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to describe the length of hospital stay for MBD. Results: For principal diagnoses of MBD, the entire length of hospital stay in the first year postpartum was 11.38 days (95% CI: 10.70–12.06) for mean and 6 days (95% CI: 5.87–6.13) for median. The length of hospital stay per admission was 8.47 days (95% CI: 8.03–8.90) for mean and 5 days (95% CI: 4.90–5.10) for median. There were 5,129 patient days of hospital stay per year for principal diagnoses of postpartum MBD in new mothers between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2005 in NSW, Australia. Conclusions: MBD, especially unipolar depressions, adjustment disorders, acute psychotic episodes, and schizophrenia, or schizophrenia-like disorders during the first year after birth, placed a significant burden on hospital services due to long hospital stays and large number of admissions.
Seed-Specific Expression of a Lysine-Rich Protein Gene, GhLRP, from Cotton Significantly Increases the Lysine Content in Maize Seeds
Authors: Yue Jing , Li Cong , Zhao Qian , Zhu Dengyun , Yu Jingjuan
Published: March 2014

Maize seed storage proteins are a major source of human and livestock consumption. However, these proteins have poor nutritional value, because they are deficient in lysine and tryptophan. Much research has been done to elevate the lysine content by reducing zein content or regulating the activities of key enzymes in lysine metabolism. Using the naturally lysine-rich protein genes, sb401 and SBgLR, from potato, we previously increased the lysine and protein contents of maize seeds. Here, we examined another natural lysine-rich protein gene, GhLRP, from cotton, which increased the lysine content of transgenic maize seeds at levels varying from 16.2% to 65.0% relative to the wild-type. The total protein content was not distinctly different, except in the six transgenic lines. The lipid and starch levels did not differ substantially in Gossypium hirsutum L. lysine-rich protein (GhLRP) transgenic kernels when compared to wild-type. The agronomic characteristics of all the transgenic maize were also normal. GhLRP is a high-lysine protein candidate gene for increasing the lysine content of maize. This study provided a valuable model system for improving maize lysine content.
Correction: Kikuchi, K., et al., Potential of the Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) Telmisartan, Irbesartan, and Candesartan for Inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE Axis in Prevention and Acute Treatment of Stroke. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 18899–18924.
Authors: Kikuchi Kiyoshi , Tancharoen Salunya , Ito Takashi , Morimoto-Yamashita Yoko , Miura Naoki , Kawahara Ko-ichi , Maruyama Ikuro , Murai Yoshinaka , Tanaka Eiichiro
Published: March 2014

The original version of the paper [1] reports that "This ACTIVE I study was supported by Pfizer" (Page 18905). However, the sponsors of the ACTIVE I study were actually Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis rather than Pfizer. [...]
Polythiophenes Comprising Conjugated Pendants for Polymer Solar Cells: A Review
Authors: Wang Hsing-Ju , Chen Chih-Ping , Jeng Ru-Jong
Published: March 2014

Polythiophene (PT) is one of the widely used donor materials for solution-processable polymer solar cells (PSCs). Much progress in PT-based PSCs can be attributed to the design of novel PTs exhibiting intense and broad visible absorption with high charge carrier mobility to increase short-circuit current density (Jsc), along with low-lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels to achieve large open circuit voltage (Voc) values. A promising strategy to tailor the photophysical properties and energy levels via covalently attaching electron donor and acceptor pendants on PTs backbone has attracted much attention recently. The geometry, electron-donating capacity, and composition of conjugated pendants are supposed to be the crucial factors in adjusting the conformation, energy levels, and photovoltaic performance of PTs. This review will go over the most recent approaches that enable researchers to obtain in-depth information in the development of PTs comprising conjugated pendants for PSCs.
Preparation of Chitosan-Based Hemostatic Sponges by Supercritical Fluid Technology
Authors: Song Hu-Fan , Chen Ai-Zheng , Wang Shi-Bin , Kang Yong-Qiang , Ye Shi-Fu , Liu Yuan-Gang , Wu Wen-Guo
Published: March 2014

Using ammonium bicarbonate (AB) particles as a porogen, chitosan (CS)-based hemostatic porous sponges were prepared in supercritical carbon dioxide due to its low viscosity, small surface tension, and good compatibility with organic solvent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra demonstrated that the chemical compositions of CS and poly-(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (PVM/MA) were not altered during the phase inversion process. The morphology and structure of the sponge after the supercritical fluid (SCF) process were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resulting hemostatic sponges showed a relatively high porosity (about 80%) with a controllable pore size ranging from 0.1 to 200 µm. The concentration of PVM/MA had no significant influence on the porosity of the sponges. Comparative experiments on biological assessment and hemostatic effect between the resulting sponges and Avitene® were also carried out. With the incorporation of PVM/MA into the CS-based sponges, the water absorption rate of the sponges increased significantly, and the CS-PVM/MA sponges showed a similar water absorption rate (about 90%) to that of Avitene®. The results of the whole blood clotting experiment and animal experiment also demonstrated that the clotting ability of the CS-PVM/MA sponges was similar to that of Avitene®. All these results elementarily verified that the sponges prepared in this study were suitable for hemostasis and demonstrated the feasibility of using SCF-assisted phase inversion technology to produce hemostatic porous sponges.
Performance-Based Specifications of Workability Characteristics of Prestressed, Precast Self-Consolidating Concrete—A North American Prospective
Authors: Long Wu-Jian , Khayat Kamal , Lemieux Guillaume , Hwang Soo-Duck , Han Ning-Xu
Published: March 2014

Adequate selection of material constituents and test methods are necessary for workability specifications and performance of hardened concrete. An experimental program was performed to evaluate the suitability of various test methods for workability assessment and to propose performance specifications of prestressed concrete. In total, 33 self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixtures made with various mixture proportioning parameters, including maximum size and type of aggregate, type and content of binder, and w/cm were evaluated. Correlations among various test results used in evaluating the workability responses are established. It is recommended that SCC should have slump flow values of 635–760 mm. To ensure proper filling capacity greater than 80%, such concrete should have a passing ability that corresponds to L-box blocking ratio (h2/h1) ≥ 0.5, J-Ring flow of 570–685 mm, slump flow minus J-Ring flow diameter ≤75 mm. Moreover, Stable SCC should develop a column segregation index lower than 5%, and rate of settlement at 30 min of 0.27%/h for SCC proportioned with 12.5 or 9.5 mm MSA. It is recommended that SCC should have a plastic viscosity of 100–225 Pa·s and 100–400 Pa·s for concrete made with crushed aggregate and gravel, respectively, to ensure proper workability.
Arsenic Adsorption onto Minerals: Connecting Experimental Observations with Density Functional Theory Calculations
Authors: Watts Heath , Tribe Lorena , Kubicki James
Published: March 2014

A review of the literature about calculating the adsorption properties of arsenic onto mineral models using density functional theory (DFT) is presented. Furthermore, this work presents DFT results that show the effect of model charge, hydration, oxidation state, and DFT method on the structures and adsorption energies for AsIII and AsV onto Fe3+-(oxyhydr)oxide cluster models. Calculated interatomic distances from periodic planewave and cluster-model DFT are compared with experimental data for AsIII and AsV adsorbed to Fe3+-(oxyhydr)oxide models. In addition, reaction rates for the adsorption of AsV on α-FeOOH (goethite) (010) and Fe3+ (oxyhydr)oxide cluster models were calculated using planewave and cluster-model DFT methods.
Instrumentation in Diffuse Optical Imaging
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng
Published: March 2014

Diffuse optical imaging is highly versatile and has a very broad range of applications in biology and medicine. It covers diffuse optical tomography, fluorescence diffuse optical tomography, bioluminescence and a number of other new imaging methods. These methods of diffuse optical imaging have diversified instrument configurations, but share the same core physical principle: light propagation in highly diffusive media, i.e., biological tissue. In this review, the author summarizes the latest development in instrumentation and methodology available to diffuse optical imaging in terms of system architecture, light source, photo-detection, spectral separation, signal modulation and, lastly, imaging contrast.
Fruit Detectability Analysis for Different Camera Positions in Sweet-Pepper
Authors: Hemming Jochen , Ruizendaal Jos , Hofstee Jan , Van Henten Eldert
Published: March 2014

For robotic harvesting of sweet-pepper fruits in greenhouses a sensor system is required to detect and localize the fruits on the plants. Due to the complex structure of the plant, most fruits are (partially) occluded when an image is taken from one viewpoint only. In this research the effect of multiple camera positions and viewing angles on fruit visibility and detectability was investigated. A recording device was built which allowed to place the camera under different azimuth and zenith angles and to move the camera horizontally along the crop row. Fourteen camera positions were chosen and the fruit visibility in the recorded images was manually determined for each position. For images taken from one position only with the criterion of maximum 50% occlusion per fruit, the fruit detectability (FD) was in no case higher than 69%. The best single positions were the front views and looking with a zenith angle of 60° upwards. The FD increased when a combination was made of multiple viewpoint positions. With a combination of five favourite positions the maximum FD was 90%.
Electroless Deposition and Nanolithography Can Control the Formation of Materials at the Nano-Scale for Plasmonic Applications
Authors: Coluccio Maria , Gentile Francesco , Francardi Marco , Perozziello Gerardo , Malara Natalia , Candeloro Patrizio , Di Fabrizio Enzo
Published: March 2014

The new revolution in materials science is being driven by our ability to manipulate matter at the molecular level to create structures with novel functions and properties. The aim of this paper is to explore new strategies to obtain plasmonic metal nanostructures through the combination of a top down method, that is electron beam lithography, and a bottom up technique, that is the chemical electroless deposition. This technique allows a tight control over the shape and size of bi- and three-dimensional metal patterns at the nano scale. The resulting nanostructures can be used as constituents of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, where the electromagnetic field is strongly amplified. Our results indicate that, in electroless growth, high quality metal nanostructures with sizes below 50 nm may be easily obtained. These findings were explained within the framework of a diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) model, that is a simulation model that makes it possible to decipher, at an atomic level, the rules governing the evolution of the growth front; moreover, we give a description of the physical mechanisms of growth at a basic level. In the discussion, we show how these findings can be utilized to fabricate dimers of silver nanospheres where the size and shape of those spheres is controlled with extreme precision and can be used for very large area SERS substrates and nano-optics, for single molecule detection.
Oxygen Sensing for Industrial Safety — Evolution and New Approaches
Authors: Willett Martin
Published: March 2014

The requirement for the detection of oxygen in industrial safety applications has historically been met by electrochemical technologies based on the consumption of metal anodes. Products using this approach have been technically and commercially successful for more than three decades. However, a combination of new requirements is driving the development of alternative approaches offering fresh opportunities and challenges. This paper reviews some key aspects in the evolution of consumable anode products and highlights recent developments in alternative technologies aimed at meeting current and anticipated future needs in this important application.
A Pseudolite-Based Positioning System for Legacy GNSS Receivers
Authors: Kim Chongwon , So Hyoungmin , Lee Taikjin , Kee Changdon
Published: March 2014

The ephemeris data format of legacy GPS receivers is improper for positioning stationary pseudolites on the ground. Therefore, to utilize pseudolites for navigation, GPS receivers must be modified so that they can handle the modified data formats of the pseudolites. Because of this problem, the practical use of pseudolites has so far been limited. This paper proposes a pseudolite-based positioning system that can be used with unmodified legacy GPS receivers. In the proposed system, pseudolites transmit simulated GPS signals. The signals use standard GPS ephemeris data format and contain ephemeris data of simulated GPS satellites, not those of pseudolites. The use of the standard format enables the GPS receiver to process pseudolite signals without any modification. However, the position output of the GPS receiver is not the correct position in this system, because there are additional signal delays from each pseudolite to the receiver. A post-calculation process was added to obtain the correct receiver position using GPS receiver output. This re-estimation is possible because it is based on known information about the simulated signals, pseudolites, and positioning process of the GPS receiver. Simulations using generated data and live GPS data are conducted for various geometries to verify the proposed system. The test results show that the proposed system provides the desired user position using pseudolite signals without requiring any modifications to the legacy GPS receiver. In this initial study, a pseudolite-only indoor system was assumed. However, it can be expanded to a GPS-pseudolite system outdoors.
A qPCR Assay to Detect and Quantify Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) in Cattle and on Farms: A Potential Predictive Tool for STEC Culture-Positive Farms
Authors: Verstraete Karen , Van Coillie Els , Werbrouck Hadewig , Van Weyenberg Stephanie , Herman Lieve , Del-Favero Jurgen , De Rijk Peter , De Zutter Lieven , Joris Maria-Adelheid , Heyndrickx Marc , DeReu Koen
Published: March 2014

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), of various serogroups harboring the intimin gene, form a serious threat to human health. They are asymptomatically carried by cattle. In this study, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method was developed as a molecular method to detect and quantify Shiga toxin genes stx1 and stx2 and the intimin gene eae. Subsequently, 59 fecal samples from six farms were tested using qPCR and a culture method as a reference. Three farms had contaminated animals as demonstrated by the culture method. Culture-positive farms showed moderate significantly higher stx prevalences than culture-negative farms (p = 0.05). This is the first study which showed preliminary results that qPCR can predict STEC farm contamination, with a specificity of 77% and a sensitivity of 83%, as compared with the culture method. Furthermore, the presence or quantity of stx genes in feces was not correlated to the isolation of STEC from the individual animal. Quantitative data thus did not add value to the results. Finally, the detection of both stx and eae genes within the same fecal sample or farm using qPCR was not correlated with the isolation of an eae-harboring STEC strain from the respective sample or farm using the culture method.
Do Estimates of Water Productivity Enhance Understanding of Farm-Level Water Management?
Authors: Wichelns Dennis
Published: March 2014

Estimates of water productivity are appearing with increasing frequency in the literature pertaining to agronomy, water management, and water policy. Some authors report such estimates as one of the outcome variables of experiment station studies, while others calculate water productivities when comparing regional crop production information. Many authors suggest or imply that higher values of water productivity are needed to ensure that future food production goals are achieved. Yet maximizing water productivity might not be consistent with farm-level goals or with societal objectives regarding water allocation and management. Farmers in both rainfed and irrigated settings must address a complex set of issues pertaining to risk, uncertainty, prices, and opportunity costs, when selecting activities and determining optimal strategies. It is not clear that farmers in either setting will or should choose to maximize water productivity. Upon examining water productivity, both conceptually and empirically, using published versions of crop production functions, I conclude that estimates of water productivity contain too little information to enhance understanding of farm-level water management.
Exploring the complex mechanical properties of xanthan scaffolds by AFM-based force spectroscopy
Authors: Liang Hao , Zeng Guanghong , Li Yinli , Zhang Shuai , Zhao Huiling , Guo Lijun , Liu Bo , Dong Mingdong
Published: March 2014

The polysaccharide xanthan has been extensively studied owing to its potential application in tissue engineering. In this paper, xanthan scaffold structures were investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM) in liquid, and the mechanical properties of the complex xanthan structures were investigated by using AFM-based force spectroscopy (FS). In this work, three types of structures in the xanthan scaffold were identified based on three types of FS stretching events. The fact that the complex force responses are the combinations of different types of stretching events suggests complicated intermolecular interactions among xanthan fibrils. The results provide crucial information to understand the structures and mechanical properties of the xanthan scaffold.
Phosphinate-containing heterocycles: A mini-review
Authors: Berger Olivier , Montchamp Jean-Luc
Published: March 2014

This review provides an overview of recent efforts towards the synthesis of phosphinate heterocycles R1R2P(O)(OR). Our laboratory and others’ have been involved in this field and as a result new P–C, P–N, and P–O containing heterocyclic motifs are now available through a variety of methods. While developing rapidly, this area is still in its infancy so that biological testing of the compounds has not yet been conducted and applications are rare. The growing availability of synthetic methods will undoubtedly change this situation in the near future.
Sex Differences in Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality among HIV-Infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy in Europe, Canada and the US
Authors:   The Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC)*, Jarrin Inma , Moreno Santiago , Ingle Sue , May Margaret T , Sterling Timothy R , Justice Amy , Bickel Markus , Crane Heidi , Mugavero Michael J , De Wolf Frank , Jung Norma , Cescon Angela , Garcia Isabel , Elzi Luigia , Arminio Antonella d , Krause Murielle Mary , Smith Colette , Guest Jodie , Hessamfar Mojgan , Gill John , Sterne Jonathan AC , del Amo Julia
Published: March 2014

Background

Here, we aimed to evaluate regional differences in all-cause, AIDS- and non-AIDS-related mortality in HIV-positive men and women started on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Europe, Canada and the US.

Methods

The ART Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC) combines 19 cohorts of individuals started on cART in Europe and North America (NA). We analysed patients infected via injecting drug use (IDU) or heterosexual sex using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

A total of 32,443 European (45.9% women), 1,162 (32.5% women) Canadian and 2,721 (15.5% women) US patients were included. In Europe and NA, women were younger, more likely to have acquired HIV heterosexually, be AIDS-free and have higher CD4+ T-cell counts and lower HIV-1 RNA at baseline. European women had lower rates of all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.76; 95% CI 0.68, 0.84) and non-AIDS mortality (0.67; 0.57, 0.78) than men, but AIDS-mortality rates were similar (0.90; 0.75, 1.09). Women had lower mortality due to non-AIDS infections (0.6 versus 1.3 per 1,000 person-years), liver diseases (0.4 versus 1.7), non-AIDS malignancies (0.6 versus 2.0) and cardiovascular diseases (0.6 versus 1.0). Between-sex differences in all-cause mortality were larger in heterosexuals (0.70; 0.61, 0.80) than in IDU (0.88; 0.73, 1.05; interaction P-value =0.043). No sex differences in all-cause mortality were found in Canada (hazard ratio women 1.13; 0.82, 1.56) or US (hazard ratio women 1.12; 0.79, 1.58).

Conclusions

The increasing importance of non-AIDS mortality is leading to emergent sex differences among HIV-positive patients in Europe, as in the general population. Despite the better clinical characteristics at cART initiation, women in NA had similar mortality to men.