bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evolution of the drainage of the Fionn Loch area, Sutherland
Authors: Boyd Alex. J.
Published: December 2013

Three lochs, Fionn, Veyatie and Cam, which occupy an elongated rock-basin on the western borders of Sutherland and Ross-shire, were once a continuous sheet of water, here called ‶Loch Suilven.″ Investigation of an extinct river, referred to as the Muirichinn, leads to the conclusion that it was by its channel that the overflow from ‶Loch Suilven″ was discharged.

Relics of the beaches of ‶Loch Suilven″ are still extant and their distinctive configuration proves that they were formed after the ice had receded from their neighbourhood. It therefore follows that the River Muirichinn flowed in late-glacial times. There are, however, abundant indications that its channel was severely glaciated. On this and other evidence it is argued that it originated between maximum glaciation and the final retreat of the ice.

During the latter period, melt-waters must have filled the above-mentioned rock-basin to overflowing. At several points therefore spillways resulted, one of which,
via
the River Kirkaig, was destined to become permanent. For a time, the outflow by the Kirkaig was considerably retarded by a massive dolerite dyke which lay athwart its course. Eventually, enough of the dyke was breached to reduce the loch level sufficiently to cause the Muirichinn to dry up and to isolate Loch Cam, though Fionn and Veyatie still remain united; but further erosion of the dyke resulted in a still further lowering of the water-level and in the ultimate separation of the basin into Lochs Veyatie and Fionn.

An additional consequence of this reduction in loch level was the increased headward erosion of certain tributaries and their capture of older streams. Two examples are given.

Finally, it is contended that the original drainage of the upper Kirkaig basin was towards the east and that glacial action was responsible for its present westerly direction.
The mode of life of certain Carboniferous animals from the West Kirkton Quarry, near Bathgate
Authors: Craig Gordon Y.
Published: December 2013

A silty marine ash in the West Kirkton Limestone yields a fossil community of burrowing forms consisting of
Edmondia, Schizodus,
worms, and loxonematid? gastropods. Most of these fossils are still in their original burrowing positions. The surface fauna is restricted to pectiniform lamellibranchs. Vertical shells of
Camarotoechia
are believed to have floated in and are not considered to have been part of the community. Sedimentary structures and the effects of the burrowing organisms on the sediment are described.
Ripple-mark in the Rhinns of Galloway
Authors: Kelling G.
Published: December 2013

In a typical greywacke-siltstone lithology of Ordovician age, ripplemarks of several types were encountered. Besides typical asymmetrical current ripple-marks, complex and interference ripple-marks occur. Other ripple-like structures observed are longitudinal with respect to the current-direction and it is demonstrated that these are best regarded as true ripple-forms.

The morphology, internal structure and lithological settings of these ripple-marks are described and inferences are drawn as to their mode of origin and the role of current-action in the formation of the sediments which contain them.
A revised geological time-scale
Authors: Holmes A.
Published: December 2013

The time-scale constructed in 1947 was based on certain assumptions that have recently been shown to be wrong. Appalachian pegmatites dated at 350 million years (m.y.) and thought to be
Taconic
(Ordovician) are now found to be
Acadian
(late Devonian), while others, dated at 255 m.y. and thought to be
Acadian
can now be referred to the Permian. Other recent evidence consistently leads to an extension of the 1947 scale that carries the beginning of the Cambrian back to about 600 m.y. ago. The scale now constructed from the data available up to October, 1959, is as follows (in m.y.):

One of the more significant consequences of this revision is that many dated rocks from Africa and the other “Gondwanaland” continents which were formerly ascribed to the late Precambrian now become Cambrian. Important orogenic and plutonic phases of a major geological cycle, implying by analogy an extensive system of geosynclines, occurred at about the close of the Precambrian and early in the Ordovician.
The evolution of quartz fabrics in the metamorphic rocks of central Perthshire
Authors: Harris A.L. , Rast N.
Published: December 2013

Structural and metamorphic studies in the Moinian and Dalradian rocks between Pitlochry and Kinloch Rannoch (Perthshire) have led to an investigation of the behaviour of quartz in response to regional metamorphism. The tectonic structures of the area indicate that the rocks have been subjected to three episodes of folding. Textural analysis by means of thin sections has led to the establishment of a sequence of mineral transformations which can be related to the tectonism which affected the rocks of the area.

Investigations with the Universal Stage—in part involving the A.V.A. method—of specimens of diverse lithological types have indicated the relationships between the orientated quartz fabrics and megascopic structures encountered in the field. Various types of quartz girdles and maxima have been identified. Changes resulting from the working of metals described by metallurgists are suggested to have a parallelism in the changes observed in rock fabrics during regional metamorphism, and this has led the authors to propose a new theory for the orientation of quartz in tectonites.
The glacial deposits at St. Fort in north-eastern Fife: a re-examination
Authors: Rice R.J.
Published: December 2013

The paper contains a fuller description than has been given previously of the glacial deposits and landforms of the St. Fort area. In the light of this further information the previous views on the origin of the deposits and landforms are critically examined, and some alternative interpretations offered.
Cyclothems, transgressions and faunal change in the lias of north-west Europe
Authors: Hallam A.
Published: December 2013

Lithofacies changes in the marine epicontinental Liassic successions of Britain, northern France and West Germany are referred to eleven stratigraphical units corresponding locally with cyclothems, which are expressions of more or less contemporaneous, widespread movements of sea level. These could be eustatic but are treated provisionally as due to regional epeirogenesis. These movements, which tended to be asymmetrical in the sense that gradual shallowing of the sea was often followed by rapid deepening, appear to have been independent of a complex pattern of basins and swells.

It is suggested that the larger landmasses were perhaps downwarped less than the marine areas, since marine transgressions seemed to have been rather local and inconsiderable in extent, with the exception of one at the base of the Pliensbachian.

An intimate correlation exists between cyclothems and evolutionary and migrational changes in the ammonites. Other faunal groups were less influenced by the environmental changes expressed in the sediments, but two profound changes are apparent. One, at the base of the Pliensbachian, was marked by a large influx of new forms. The other, in the Lower Toarcian, was marked by mass disappearance and renewal. This, the most significant faunal change in the whole of the Lias, coincides with a widespread and comparatively sudden deepening of the sea.
Petrology of Mt. Nyiragongo: a review
Authors: Sahama Th. G.
Published: December 2013

This paper gives a review of the work dealing with the petrology and petrogenesis of the active volcano Mt. Nyiragongo in the eastern part of Congo. The volcano has been drilled through an essentially granitic Pre-Cambrian substratum.

The rocks represent melilitite (bergalite) tuffs and lavas overlain by leucitites and, on top of the mountain, by nephelinites. The volcano is the only one known so far in which extrusive and effusive bergalitic materials play an important role.

The various rock types are considered derivatives of a nephelinitic parent magma. The differentiation, resulting in the rock sequence mentioned, is interpreted as mainly through gas transport and carbonation of the top parts of the magma chamber. Evidence for such an interpretation is largely based on information from some other African alkaline volcanoes with carbonatite-type volcanism.

The carbonation in Nyiragongo is considered as belonging to the differentiation of the nephelinitic magma itself without limestone syntexis.
A re-interpretation of the literature on late-glacial shorelines in Scotland with particular reference to the Forth area
Authors: Sissons J.B.
Published: December 2013

Some problems revealed by the literature on Scottish late-glacial raised beaches are indicated and it is suggested that these problems cannot be resolved in terms of the widely-held concept of so-called 100-ft. and 50-ft. beaches. Reasons are given for believing that some late-glacial shorelines in Scotland have considerably steeper gradients than has hitherto been recognised. Particular reference is made to the Forth area, where shoreline altitudes as recorded in the literature reveal anomalies that appear not to be explicable in terms of current ideas. The relation of shorelines to glacial stages is briefly considered and modification of the limit of Simpson's Perth Readvance in the Forth area suggested. Some implications of the hypothesis presented are mentioned.
Temporary exposures in the Calciferous Sandstone Measures of East Fife
Authors: Wattison A.
Published: December 2013

Temporary exposures contribute to show that the anticlinal area inland from Anstruther to Crail is formed by a group of non-marine beds including limestone and oil-shale. Thin floral and faunal bands resemble those of the Burdiehouse Limestone of Midlothian but are not of a kind to permit exact correlation.
Microfabric studies from the Dalradian rocks of Glen Lyon, Perthshire
Authors: Ramsay D.M.
Published: December 2013

An analysis of the grain orientation in a number of psammites and quartz schists from Glen Lyon revealed departures from the large-scale movement plan in the symmetry of the internal deforming movements. The first two episodes of deformation with movement plans possessing monoclinic symmetry can on a small scale, for some elements of the fabric, display triclinic symmetry. Quartz fabrics may or may not be symmetrically related to the megascopic structures, and several have triclinic symmetry as a result of cross-girdles. These cross-girdles result from non-uniform flow in the plane of shearing, a feature also found in some megascopic structures. Quartz, because of its lack of tabular habit, is held to reflect in its orientation the symmetry of the movements more closely than the tabular micaceous minerals. Symmetry axes therefore have no fixed relationship to the kinematic axes.

The inhomogeneity of small-scale deformation is underlined in the grain-patterns of schistose grits. Superindividuals reacted to the stress independently of the matrix and each other and the resultant strain pattern depends on the original orientation of the grain. Coincidence of the

c
v

axes of the larger grains with the shear directions in the rock results in recrystallisation to needle-shaped grains with a strong preferred orientation while unsuitably oriented grains form less-oriented equidimensional mosaics. The non-uniform flow reflected in the cross girdles is also imprinted in the fabrics of some of the superindividuals.

Deformation in vein quartz produces a greater development of needle-formation and a higher degree of preferred orientation than the grits. Variable plunges of

c
v

axes within strain segments in the plane of splitting correspond to the cross-girdles in schists.

In several rocks strong concentrations of microfractures and planes of minute inclusions represent annealed fractures with the same orientation as bc joints in the megascopic fabric.

Where the rocks are strongly schistose there is a tendency for quartz to grow elongated in the schistosity plane and independent of the lattice orientation.
Some intrusions in the Lewisian Complex near Badcall, Sutherland
Authors: O'Hara M.J.
Published: December 2013

Four types of basic dyke are found in a small, well exposed area of early Lewisian complex gneisses near Badcall. All the dykes were intruded into the gneisses while these were at relatively high temperatures. One dyke of picritic composition has quenched directly to an amphibole rock on intrusion. It is argued that there is no evidence that the gneisses of the Scourie district were ever cool or brought to high levels in the crust between the two periods of Lewisian regional metamorphism.
Notes on
Pteraspis mitchelli
and its associated fauna
Authors: White E.I.
Published: December 2013

The specimens referred to
Pteraspis mitchelli
have been re-examined and re-described, and it is confirmed that all the pteraspid material from Bridge of Allan and Newtyle belongs to this one species. The associated cephalaspid fauna from Bridge of Allan is referred to three distinct species,
Cephalaspis scotica
sp. nov.,
Securiaspis waterstoni
sp. nov., and
Securiaspis caledonica
sp. nov.
The Old Red Sandstone and the Highland Boundary in Arran, Scotland
Authors: Friend P.F. , Harland W.B. , Hudson J.D.
Published: December 2013

The Old Red Sandstone of Arran is described and divided into a number of formations. South of the Highland Boundary line its thickness averages 1800 m.; north of it only 36 m. is preserved. Its age is discussed, the conglomerates, breccias, sandstone and siltstones are described, and a modified sandstone classification is applied. Cornstones, volcanic rocks and epidotised rocks are also described. The source of the rocks is discussed. Gunn's original mapping has been modified, especially in the reinterpretation of the Old Red Sandstone-Dalradian boundary as a step-faulted unconformity. We confirm that the deformation of the Old Red Sandstone is largely the result of the intrusion and uplift of the Tertiary Granites.

The history of ideas on the Highland Boundary in Arran is reviewed. There is stratigraphical evidence of Old Red Sandstone movement along this line in North-East Arran, and the North Sannox Fault may have originated then. The fault can no longer be regarded as passing south of the granite.

A review of the geological history includes consideration of the environment and fluviatile mode of sedimentation of the Old Red Sandstone and the tectonic sequence of its Lower Tertiary deformation.
Petrography and provenance of the Millstone Grit of Central Scotland
Authors: Muir Richard O.
Published: December 2013

The mineralogy of the Millstone Grit sandstones is described. It is shown that the heavy mineral assemblage is quite different from those of the Upper Limestone Group and Coal Measures. Lateral variations in the accessory minerals are considered to be due to derivation from several sources rather than to sorting or to differential intrastratal solution. Vertical variations are attributed to changes in the relative importance of the different source areas. An examination of both light and heavy minerals suggests that the major source areas were composed largely of low-grade metamorphic rocks intruded by acid igneous masses and that several of the minor assemblages may have been derived by local erosion of the Upper Limestone Group.
On some abnormal deposits of limestone
Authors: Goodchild J.G.
Published: December 2013

T
he
author reviewed several of the different modes whereby limestones may have been formed, his chief conclusion being that a variable, but often large, percentage of the constituent matter of nearly all limestones is of the nature of a chemical precipitate, due to the reactions of matters of organic origin upon the sulphate of lime in sea-water. [When the paper was read the author advocated the view that the carbonate of lime secreted by aquatic animals—and therefore the chief organic constituents of limestones—was obtained by the organisms from the
sulphate of lime
existing in solution in sea-water, and he gave several reasons for doubting whether any of the carbonate of lime of organic origin could have been, in any case, assimilated direct. The author was not aware until after the paper was read, that these points had been already demonstrated by Messrs Irvine and Woodhead. (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xvi., p. 324.) The author had independently arrived at this conclusion by an entirely different line of reasoning.] Some reference was made to limestones that are entirely of inorganic origin. It was pointed out that where basic igneous rocks are undergoing decomposition, or other changes in composition, carbonate of lime is one of the substances liberated; and this is often redeposited at lower levels. As a rule such deposits consist of calcspar and are more or less crystalline; but in some few instances the mineral is left nearly in an amorphous form, hardly, if at all, distinguishable from sedimentary limestone. Some well-banded and fine textured limestones traversing the bedding planes of the volcanic rocks on the shore east of North Berwick appear to be of this nature. Other illustrations were referred to. More commonly the decomposition of the ferro-magnesian silicates in rocks of basic composition gave rise to beds of native dolomite. Some examples were adduced.
The diamond-bearing blue-ground and allied rocks of South Africa
Authors: Du Toit A.L.
Published: December 2013

M
r du
T
oit
said that scores of volcanic necks or pipes filled with the peculiar bluish ultrabasic breccia known as blue-ground or kimberlite pierced the strata in South Africa, and were accompanied by numerous dykes of the same or of an allied material. The blue-ground contained a great variety of minerals, chief among which were olivine, enstatite, diopside, garnet, mica, and ilmenite, and the groundmass was of a serpentinous nature. The rock contained abundant inclusions of the strata pierced by the pipes, together with fragments of rocks brought up from great depths. These consisted of ultrabasic holocrystalline rocks, rich in magnesium silicates, along with eclogites (garnet-diopside rocks), and granulites of various types. These inclusions had, by some geologists, been regarded as segregations from the kimberlite magma, but appeared more probably to be portions of a deep-seated formation penetrated by the pipes—the denser and less silicious portion of the crust of the earth, in fact. The eclogites graded into the garnetiferous granulites, and seemed to have but little affinity to the ultrabasic rocks and the kimberlite. The blue-ground appeared to be a hybrid rock, the matrix of which was closely allied to, if not identical with, melilite-basalt, a rock which had been found in pipes in Cape Colony along with silicious breccias. The diamond had by some been considered to have originated in the blue-ground itself, but the occurrence of diamonds in the garnets of eclogite indicated a more probable source of the gems. The absence or scarcity of diamonds in all but a very small percentage of the pipes was also in favour of this view. The secondary changes in the kimberlite had led to the production of serpentine, with consequent increase in the bulk of the rock. This had caused a swelling of the material, and the strata surrounding the pipes had been tilted upwards at the contacts, whereas in other types of volcanoes, both ancient and modern, the reverse was usually the case. The age of the pipes was probably late Cretaceous.
Skeletal muscle mitochondrial uncoupling drives endocrine cross-talk through the induction of FGF21 as a myokine
Authors: Keipert Susanne , Ost Mario , Johann Kornelia , Imber Francine , Jastroch Martin , van Schothorst Evert M. , Keijer Jaap , Klaus Susanne
Published: December 2013

UCP1-Tg mice with ectopic expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in skeletal muscle (SM) are a model of improved substrate metabolism and increased longevity. Analysis of myokine expression showed an induction of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in SM, resulting in approximately fivefold elevated circulating FGF21 in UCP1-Tg mice. Despite a reduced muscle mass, UCP1-Tg mice showed no evidence for a myopathy or muscle autophagy deficiency but an activation of integrated stress response (ISR; eIF2α/ATF4) in SM. Targeting mitochondrial function in vitro by treating C2C12 myoblasts with the uncoupler FCCP resulted in a dose-dependent activation of ISR, which was associated with increased expression of FGF21, which was also observed by treatment with respiratory chain inhibitors antimycin A and myxothiazol. The cofactor required for FGF21 action, β-klotho, was expressed in white adipose tissue (WAT) of UCP1-Tg mice, which showed an increased browning of WAT similar to what occurred in altered adipocyte morphology, increased brown adipocyte markers (UCP1, CIDEA), lipolysis (HSL phosphorylation), and respiratory capacity. Importantly, treatment of primary white adipocytes with serum of transgenic mice resulted in increased UCP1 expression. Additionally, UCP1-Tg mice showed reduced body length through the suppressed IGF-I-GH axis and decreased bone mass. We conclude that the induction of FGF21 as a myokine is coupled to disturbance of mitochondrial function and ISR activation in SM. FGF21 released from SM has endocrine effects leading to increased browning of WAT and can explain the healthy metabolic phenotype of UCP1-Tg mice. These results confirm muscle as an important endocrine regulator of whole body metabolism.
Combined Effects of Stretching and Resistance Training on Ankle Joint Flexibility
Authors: Kato E. , Kurihara T. , Kanehisa H. , Fukunaga T. , Kawakami Y.
Published: December 2013

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the combined effects of stretching and resistance training on the active and passive dorsiflexion range of motion of ankle joint. Sixteen young adult men were randomly assigned to a training (n=8) or a control (n=8) group. The training group trained one leg for the combined program of static calf stretching and dorsiflexors resistance training program (STR+TR) and the other leg for static stretching program only (STR). The training group executed stretching of both legs every day and resistance training every other day for six weeks. After the training program, in STR+TR side, both active and passive dorsiflexion range of motions significantly (P<0.05) increased and also isometric maximal voluntary dorsiflexion torque increased, while in STR side, only passive dorsiflexion range of motion increased. In passive dorsiflexion range of motion, increased dorsiflexion ROM was accompanied by increased tendon elongation not muscle elongation. In conclusion, the combined program of stretching for calf muscles and resistance training for dorsiflexors increases active as well as passive dorsiflexion range of motion, while static calf stretching program is effective only for the increase in passive dorsiflexion range of motion.
GC‐MS Analysis of Insecticidal Essential Oil of Aerial Parts of Echinops latifolius Tausch
Authors: Liu Xin Chao , Hao Xianghong , Zhou Ligang , Liu Zhi Long
Published: December 2013

The roots of Echinops latifolius Tausch (Asteraceae) have been used in the traditional medicine. However, no report on chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of this plant exists. The aim of this research was to determine chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of E. latifolius aerial parts against maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) for the first time. Essential oil of E. latifolius aerial parts at flowering stage was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). A total of 35 components of the essential oil of E. latifolius aerial parts were identified. The major compounds in the essential oil were 1,8‐cineole (19.63%), (Z)‐β‐ocimene (18.44%), and β‐pinene (15.56%) followed by β‐myrcene (4.75%) and carvone (4.39%). The essential oil of E. latifolius possessed contact toxicity against S. zeamais with an LD50 value of 36.40 µg/adult. The essential oil also exhibited fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais with an LC50 value of 9.98 mg/L. The study indicates that the essential oil of E. latifolius aerial parts has a potential for development into a natural insecticide/fumigant for control of insects in stored grains.
A Capacitated Location-Allocation Model for Flood Disaster Service Operations with Border Crossing Passages and Probabilistic Demand Locations
Authors: Mirzapour Seyed Ali , Wong Kuan Yew , Govindan Kannan
Published: December 2013

Potential consequences of flood disasters, including severe loss of life and property, induce emergency managers to find the appropriate locations of relief rooms to evacuate people from the origin points to a safe place in order to lessen the possible impact of flood disasters. In this research, a p-center location problem is considered in order to determine the locations of some relief rooms in a city and their corresponding allocation clusters. This study presents a mixed integer nonlinear programming model of a capacitated facility location-allocation problem which simultaneously considers the probabilistic distribution of demand locations and a fixed line barrier in a region. The proposed model aims at minimizing the maximum expected weighted distance from the relief rooms to all the demand regions in order to decrease the evacuation time of people from the affected areas before flood occurrence. A real-world case study has been carried out to examine the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model.
3D Gestural Interaction: The State of the Field
Authors: LaViola Joseph J.
Published: December 2013

3D gestural interaction provides a powerful and natural way to interact with computers using the hands and body for a variety of different applications including video games, training and simulation, and medicine. However, accurately recognizing 3D gestures so that they can be reliably used in these applications poses many different research challenges. In this paper, we examine the state of the field of 3D gestural interfaces by presenting the latest strategies on how to collect the raw 3D gesture data from the user and how to accurately analyze this raw data to correctly recognize 3D gestures users perform. In addition, we examine the latest in 3D gesture recognition performance in terms of accuracy and gesture set size and discuss how different applications are making use of 3D gestural interaction. Finally, we present ideas for future research in this thriving and active research area.
Identification of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Related Genes by Applying Shortest Path Algorithm in Protein-Protein Interaction Network
Authors: Zhang Jian , Jiang Min , Yuan Fei , Feng Kai-Yan , Cai Yu-Dong , Xu Xun , Chen Lei
Published: December 2013

This study attempted to find novel age-related macular degeneration (AMD) related genes based on 36 known AMD genes. The well-known shortest path algorithm, Dijkstra’s algorithm, was applied to find the shortest path connecting each pair of known AMD related genes in protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The genes occurring in any shortest path were considered as candidate AMD related genes. As a result, 125 novel AMD genes were predicted. The further analysis based on betweenness and permutation test indicates that there are 10 genes involved in the formation or development of AMD and may be the actual AMD related genes with high probability. We hope that this contribution would promote the study of age-related macular degeneration and discovery of novel effective treatments.
Mild Systemic Oxidative Stress in the Subclinical Stage of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Giavarotti Leandro , Simon Karin A. , Azzalis Ligia A. , Fonseca Fernando L. A. , Lima Alessandra F. , Freitas Maria C. V. , Brunialti Milena K. C. , Salomão Reinaldo , Moscardi Alcione A. V. S. , M. Montaño Maria B. M. , Ramos Luiz R. , Junqueira Virgínia B. C.
Published: December 2013

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a late-onset, progressive degenerative disorder that affects mainly the judgment, emotional stability, and memory domains. AD is the outcome of a complex interaction among several factors which are not fully understood yet; nevertheless, it is clear that oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways are among these factors. 65 elderly subjects (42 cognitively intact and 23 with probable Alzheimer’s disease) were selected for this study. We evaluated erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase as well as plasma levels of total glutathione,α-tocopherol,β-carotene, lycopene, and coenzyme Q10. These antioxidant parameters were confronted with plasmatic levels of protein and lipid oxidation products. Additionally, we measured basal expression of monocyte HLA-DR and CD-11b, as well as monocyte production of cytokines IL1-α, IL-6, and TNF-α. AD patients presented lower plasmatic levels ofα-tocopherol when compared to control ones and also higher basal monocyte HLA-DR expression associated with higher IL-1αproduction when stimulated by LPS. These findings support the inflammatory theory of AD and point out that this disease is associated with a higher basal activation of circulating monocytes that may be a result ofα-tocopherol stock depletion.
Effect of Addition of Melatonin on the Liquid Storage (5°C) of Mithun (Bos frontalis) Semen
Authors: Perumal P. , Vupru Kezhavituo , Khate K.
Published: December 2013

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of melatonin (MT) on sperm motility, viability, total sperm abnormality, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity, DNA abnormality, antioxidant profiles such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), enzymatic profiles such as aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), and biochemical profiles such as malonaldehyde (MDA) production and cholesterol efflux. Total numbers of 30 ejaculates were collected twice a week from eight mithun bulls and semen was split into five equal aliquots, diluted with the TEYC extender. Group 1 has semen without additives (control) and group 2 to group 5 have semen that was diluted with 1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, and 4 mM of melatonin, respectively. These seminal parameters, antioxidant, enzymatic, and biochemical profiles were assessed at 5°C for 0, 6, 12, 24, and 30 h of incubation. Inclusion of melatonin into diluent resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease in percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, and acrosomal abnormalities at different hours of storage periods as compared with control group. Additionally, melatonin at 3 mM has significant improvement in quality of mithun semen than melatonin at 1 mM, 2 mM or 4 mM stored inin vitrofor up to 30 h. It was concluded that the possible protective effects of melatonin on sperm parameters are it prevents MDA production and preserve the antioxidants and intracellular enzymes during preservation.
Autoclaved Tumor Bone for Skeletal Reconstruction in Paediatric Patients: A Low Cost Alternative in Developing Countries
Authors: Umer Masood , Umer Hafiz Muhammad , Qadir Irfan , Rashid Haroon , Awan Rabia , Askari Raza , Ashraf Shamvil
Published: December 2013

We reviewed in this series forty patients of pediatric age who underwent resection for malignant tumors of musculoskeletal system followed by biological reconstruction. Our surgical procedure for reconstruction included (1) wide en bloc resection of the tumor; (2) curettage of tumor from the resected bone; (3) autoclaving for 8 minutes (4) bone grafting from the fibula (both vascularized and nonvascularized fibular grafts used); (5) reimplantation of the autoclaved bone into the host bone defect and fixation with plates. Functional evaluation was done using MSTS scoring system. At final followup of at least 18 months (mean 29.2 months), 31 patients had recovered without any complications. Thirty-eight patients successfully achieved a solid bony union between the graft and recipient bone. Three patients had surgical site infection. They were managed with wound debridement and flap coverage of the defect. Local recurrence and nonunion occurred in two patients each. One patient underwent disarticulation at hip due to extensive local disease and one died of metastasis. For patients with non-union, revision procedure with bone graft and compression plates was successfully used. The use of autoclaved tumor grafts provides a limb salvage option that is inexpensive and independent of external resources and is a viable option for musculoskeletal tumor management in developing countries.
Autonomic Nervous System Mediates the Hypotensive Effects of Aqueous and Residual Methanolic Extracts ofSyzygium polyanthum(Wight) Walp. var.polyanthumLeaves in Anaesthetized Rats
Authors: Ismail A. , Mohamed M. , Sulaiman S. A. , Wan Ahmad W. A. N.
Published: December 2013

Syzygium polyanthum(Wight) Walp. var.polyanthumleaves are consumed as a traditional Malay treatment of hypertension. This study investigates hypotensive potential of aqueous (AESP) and residual methanolic (met-AESP) extracts ofS. polyanthumleaves and possible involvement of autonomic receptors. AESP and met-AESP (20 to 100 mg/kg) were intravenously administered into anaesthetized Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Blood pressure and heart were monitored for 20 min. AESP and met-AESP induced significant dose-dependent hypotension, but only 100 mg/kg AESP caused mild bradycardia (n=5). AESP-induced hypotension was more potent than that of met-AESP in WKY. AESP has a faster onset time than that of met-AESP in both WKY and SHR. However, met-AESP-induced hypotension was more sustained than that of AESP in SHR. Blockages of autonomic ganglion andα-adrenergic receptors using hexamethonium and phentolamine (n=5for each group) partially attenuated AESP-induced hypotension, suggesting involvement ofα-adrenergic receptors. Blockages of autonomic ganglion,β-adrenergic, cholinergic receptors, and nitric oxide production using hexamethonium, propranolol, atropine, and N-ω-nitro-l arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (n=5for each group) partially attenuated met-AESP-induced hypotension, suggesting involvement ofβ-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors via nitric oxide production.
LCMS-QTOF Determination of Lentinan-Like β-D-Glucan Content Isolated by Hot Water and Alkaline Solution from Tiger’s Milk Mushroom, Termite Mushroom, and Selected Local Market Mushrooms
Authors: Mohd Jamil Nor Azreen , Rahmad Norasfaliza , Mohd Nor Rashid Noraswati , Mohd Yusoff Mohd Hafis Yuswan , Shaharuddin Nur Syahidah , Mohd Saleh Norihan
Published: December 2013

Lentinan, 1152 Dalton β-D-glucan found in Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes), has been claimed to have anticancer and immunomodulatory activity. Several extraction methods have been used by researchers to isolate Lentinan including hot water and alkaline solution (1.25 M NaOH). In this study, hot water and alkaline solution (1.25 M NaOH) were used to extract the Lentinan-like β-D-glucan (1151 Dalton) from Tiger’s Milk Mushroom, Termite Mushroom, and selected local market mushrooms. The isolated Lentinan-like β-D-glucan from both hot water and alkaline solution was analyzed by LCMS-QTOF. Commercial Lentinan standard from Lentinus edodes was used as a reference. The results showed significant differences on chromatogram patterns of Lentinan-like β-D-glucan between both extracts. The peak of Lentinan-like β-D-glucan was only found in isolated polysaccharide glucan of hot water extracts. The isolated polysaccharide glucans from Tiger’s Milk Mushroom and Termite Mushroom were found to have 0.74±0.12 μg/mg and 0.53±0.07 μg/mg Lentinan-like β-D-glucan. Button Mushroom, Shiitake Mushroom, and Oyster Mushroom showed the presence of Lentinan-like β-D-glucan at 16.16±4.15 μg/mg, 0.22±0.04, and 0.10±0.01 μg/mg, respectively.
Implementing Lean Practices: Managing the Transformation Risks
Authors: Pearce Antony , Pons Dirk
Published: December 2013

Insightful implementation of lean is necessary for high-value manufacturing and is complementary to strategic decision making regarding manufacture. However lean can be difficult to implement in specific organisations. One of the difficulties is deciding which of the many lean tools to apply and when to apply them. A complicating factor is change management. Lean implementation is a transformational process and needs to support organisational development alongside process improvement. We develop a method based on risk management to identify which lean tools are most appropriate for a specific organisational setting. This permits the situational and contingency variables to be accommodated in the lean transformation. The method is demonstrated by application to a small manufacturing organisation with a high-variety low-volume business model. Thus it is possible, given contextual knowledge of the organisation, to predict which lean methods are most important in the situation. This enables the prioritisation of organisational effort towards lean methods that are relevant to the organisation at that particular time in its development.
Color Centers Formation in Lithium Fluoride Nanocubes Doped with Different Elements
Authors: Salah Numan , Babkair Saeed S. , Azam Ameer
Published: December 2013

Nanocrystalline cubes of pure and doped LiF material were fabricated. They were doped with Cu, Ag, Dy, Tb, and Eu and studied for their PL properties. Shape of the obtained nanocubes was found to be modified by introducing dopants into the host of LiF. The crystallinity was also decreased by increasing the concentration of these dopants (i.e., Eu and Tb). These impurities could induce exothermic peaks at around 250°C in the measured DSC curves. Moreover, incorporating such impurities into the host of LiF was found to enhance intensity of the broad band at 370–550 nm that was observed in the pure one. Extra sharp emissions were also observed in Eu and Tb doped samples. These results showed that the active color centers created in pure LiF nanocubes can be enriched/enhanced by these impurities, mainly Eu and Tb. This implies that these nanocubes might be useful in the development of optical devices and advanced color center laser.
Effect of Temperature and Humidity on the Degradation Rate of Multicrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Module
Authors: Park N. C. , Oh W. W. , Kim D. H.
Published: December 2013

In a PV module, the relative humidity (rh) of a front encapsulant is different from that of a backside encapsulant (rhback). In this study, the effective humidity (rheff) in a PV module was investigated to study the effects of moisture variation on the degradation rate (RD). rheffrepresents uniform humidity in a PV module when it is exposed to certain damp heat conditions. Five types of accelerated tests were conducted to derive the relation between rheffand rhback. rheffshowed a linear relationship with rhbackat constant temperature. Two types of models, namely, Eyring and Peck models, were used for predicting theRDof PV modules, and their results were compared. TheRDof PV modules was thermally activated at 0.49 eV. Furthermore, the temperature and rheffhistory of PV modules over one year were determined at two locations: Miami (FL, USA) and Phoenix (AZ, USA). The accumulatedRDvalues based on the temperature and rheffof the modules were calculated by summing the hourly degradation amounts over the time history.
Magnitude of Construction Cost and Schedule Overruns in Public Work Projects
Authors: Shrestha Pramen P. , Burns Leslie A. , Shields David R.
Published: December 2013

This study analyzed 363 Clark County Department of Public Works (CCDPW) projects to determine construction cost and schedule overruns in various types and sizes of the projects. The sample projects were constructed from 1991 to 2008, with a total construction cost of $1.85 billion, equivalent to 2012 cost. A one-factor ANOVA test was conducted to determine whether construction cost and schedule overruns significantly varied based on types and sizes of the projects. The study showed that large, long-duration projects had significantly higher cost and schedule overruns than smaller, short-duration projects.
Does the Integration of Personalized Ultrasound Change Patient Management in Critical Care Medicine? Observational Trials
Authors: Breitkreutz Raoul , Campo delľ Orto Marco , Hamm Christian , Cuca Colleen , Zechner Peter M. , Stenger Tanja , Walcher Felix , Seeger Florian H.
Published: December 2013

Objective.To test the influence of personalized ultrasound (PersUS) on patient management in critical care.Design of the Study. Prospective, observational, and critical care setting. Four substudies compared PersUS and mobile ultrasound, work distribution, and diagnostic and procedural quality.Patients and Interventions. 640 patient ultrasound exams including 548 focused diagnostic exams and 92 interventional procedures.Main Outcome Measures. Number of studies, physician’s judgement of feasibility, time of usage per patient, and referrals to echo lab.Results. Randomized availability of PersUS increased its application in ICU work shifts more than twofold from 33 to 68 exams mainly for detection and therapy of effusions. Diagnostic and procedural quality was rated as excellent/very good in PersUS-guided puncture in 95% of cases. Integrating PersUS within an initial physical examination of 48 randomized cases in an emergency department, PersUS extended the examination time by 100 seconds. Interestingly, PersUS integration into 53 randomized regular ward rounds of 1007 patients significantly reduced average contact time per patient by 103 seconds from 8.9 to 7.2 minutes. Moreover, it lowered the patient referral rate to an echo lab from 20% to 2% within the study population.Conclusions. We propose the development of novel ultrasound-based clinical pathways by integration of PersUS.
Nonclassical Antigen-Processing Pathways Are Required for MHC Class II–Restricted Direct Tumor Recognition by NY-ESO-1–Specific CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Matsuzaki Junko , Tsuji Takemasa , Luescher Immanuel , Old Lloyd J. , Shrikant Protul , Gnjatic Sacha , Odunsi Kunle
Published: December 2013

Tumor antigen–specific CD4+ T cells that directly recognize cancer cells are important for orchestrating antitumor immune responses at the local tumor sites. However, the mechanisms of direct MHC class II (MHC-II) presentation of intracellular tumor antigen by cancer cells are poorly understood. We found that two functionally distinct subsets of CD4+ T cells were expanded after HLA-DPB1*04 (DP04)-binding NY-ESO-1157-170 peptide vaccination in patients with ovarian cancer. Although both subsets recognized exogenous NY-ESO-1 protein pulsed on DP04+ target cells, only one type recognized target cells with intracellular expression of NY-ESO-1. The tumor-recognizing CD4+ T cells more efficiently recognized the short 8–9-mer peptides than the non–tumor-recognizing CD4+ T cells. In addition to endosomal/lysosomal proteases that are typically involved in MHC-II antigen presentation, several pathways in the MHC class I presentation pathways, such as the proteasomal degradation and transporter-associated with antigen-processing–mediated peptide transport, were also involved in the presentation of intracellular NY-ESO-1 on MHC-II. The presentation was inhibited significantly by primaquine, a small molecule that inhibits endosomal recycling, consistent with findings that pharmacologic inhibition of new protein synthesis enhances antigen presentation. Together, our data demonstrate that cancer cells selectively present peptides from intracellular tumor antigens on MHC-II by multiple nonclassical antigen-processing pathways. Harnessing the direct tumor-recognizing ability of CD4+ T cells could be a promising strategy to enhance antitumor immune responses in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(4); 341–50. ©2013 AACR.
The Effect of Silymarin on Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Demir M. , Amanvermez R. , Kamalı Polat A. , Karabıçak İ. , Çınar H. , Kesicioğlu T. , Polat C.
Published: December 2013

Objective: To examine the effect of silymarin (SM), a mixture of flavonoids and polyphenols extracted from Silybum marianum, on mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Fifty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10). Group 1 was sham operated, while groups 2-5 were subjected to mesenteric I-R lasting 1 h. Group 2 received isotonic sodium chloride, group 3 received SM (100 mg/kg/day) for 7 days before I-R, group 4 received SM for 7 days after I-R, and group 5 received SM for 7 days both before and after I-R. The rats were sacrificed by exsanguination in groups 1-3 at the 24th hour and groups 4 and 5 were sacrificed on the 7th day of reperfusion. Blood and intestinal specimens were taken for biochemical and pathological evaluations. Results: Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and heat shock protein 70 levels were significantly higher in group 2 (5.24 ± 1.76 U/l and 261.4 ± 16.8 ng/ml) compared to the sham group (2.08 ± 1.76 U/l and 189.9 ± 28.7 ng/ml) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). However, SOD activity and the extent and severity of the histopathological lesions were significantly less in groups 3 [3.11 ± 1.18 U/l, 1.0 (range 0.0-2.0)], 4 [2.15 ± 0.87 U/l, 1.0 (range 1.0-3.0)], and 5 [1.80 ± 0.61 U/l, 0.5 (range 0.0-2.0)], treated with SM, than in group 2 [5.24 ± 1.76 U/l, 2.0 (range 2.0-3.0)] (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p = 0.0001; p < 0.001, p = 0.007, and p = 0.0001, respectively). Also, TNF-α levels were lower in the SM-supplemented groups compared to group 2. Serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance concentrations were low in the pre-/posttreatment groups treated with SM compared to group 2. No statistical difference was observed for protein carbonyls between the groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SM therapy may attenuate the oxidative and intestinal damage induced by I-R injuries.
NARP Syndrome: A 20-YearFollow-Up
Authors: Rawle Mark , Larner Andrew
Published: December 2013

One member of a pedigree with NARP syndrome (neurogenic weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa), a mitochondrial disorder due to a point mutation at position 8993 in the mitochondrial genome ATPase 6 gene, was reevaluated some 20 years after first being reported in the medical literature. Initially assessed at age 39 years, she had retinitis pigmentosa and a mild sensory axonal neuropathy, typical features of NARP, but was otherwise clinically normal. At age 59 years, she was registered blind, had sensorineural hearing impairment, had recently been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and may have had some mild cognitive impairment. This case shows that the clinical phenotype of NARP due to mitochondrial dysfunction may evolve over a period of decades.
Justifying Children’s Rights
Authors: Tobin John
Published: December 2013

The conceptual foundations of children’s rights remain under theorized. This paper develops a social interest theory of rights to offer a justification for the conception of rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It reveals that this conception is capable of producing a culturally sensitive, dynamic, inclusive and relational conception of rights that remedies many of the deficiencies associated with the traditional conception of human rights as being Western, individualistic trumps.