bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of An Interactive Music Awareness Program for Cochlear Implant Recipients
Authors: van Besouw Rachel M. , Oliver Benjamin R. , Grasmeder Mary L. , Hodkinson Sarah M. , Solheim Heidi
Published: April 2016

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prototype interactive music awareness program (IMAP) for adult cochlear implant (CI) users. An unblinded, randomized crossover design was used. Twenty-one CI users were recruited and allocated to two groups. Group 1 received the IMAP first, followed by a retention of learning phase. Group 2 were given the IMAP after 12 weeks. Participants were instructed to undertake two half-hour sessions per week at home over 12 weeks. Both groups attended appointments at the start, halfway through, and at the end of the trial. At each appointment participants completed tests of speech perception, melodic contour identification, and instrument recognition, rated the sound quality of music, and indicated their music listening habits. Sixteen participants completed the study. Following training both groups showed improved instrument recognition abilities and feedback suggests further positive impact on participants’ lives. The findings suggest that the IMAP is beneficial for music perception and in particular, improved instrument recognition.
АНАЛІЗ ВАРІАЦІЇ ЧИСЕЛЬНОСТІ МІГРУЮЧИХ ПТАХІВ
Authors: Matsyura О. V. , Zhdanova D. V.
Published: April 2016

The technical approach developed for the estimation of migratory birds population trends was presented|. The review of applied software that can be implemented in the analysis of population trends was done|. The suggested models could be used in analysis and prognosis of birds abundance.
РОЗВИТОК КОНЦЕПЦІЇ ЦІЛІСНИХ АРЕАЛІВ ПТАХІВ: АНАЛІЗ МІГРАЦІЙНИХ ШЛЯХІВ
Authors: Matsyura О. V. , Gorlov P. І. , Matsyura М. V.
Published: April 2016

Data on distribution and abundance of Ukraine migratory birds have nonsystematic character. Up to now there is no integrated evaluation of migratory bird populations’ status. The available information is of regional importance or it covers limited time period. Therefore, it is obvious to unite all the relevant information in order to establish monitoring program and work out the methodic on migratory birds abundance estimation concerning the Black-Mediterranean Sea Flyway.
МАТЕМАТИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ ДИНАМИКИ ЧИСЛЕННОСТИ НЕКОТОРЫХ ОКОЛОВОДНЫХ ВИДОВ ПТИЦ ОСТРОВОВ СИВАША
Authors: Matsyura A. V.
Published: April 2016

The problem of the mathematical analysis of dynamics of number of key colonial breeding waterbirds regarding to the islands of region is considered. The algorithm of an estimation of changes in number of birds is offered in scope of specific features of colonies and habitats. The data of long-term monitoring of island birds’ number have been analyzed according to proposed algorithm. On the basis of analysis results the necessity of use of the statistical indexes expressing the tendencies of changes in bird number and bird turnover is proved. For the key species of island communities the tendencies of changes in number are determined within the limits of researched region. The discussed technique of a complex estimation of breeding island bird dynamics is offered for the use at drawing up the management plans and development of nature protection actions with the purpose of conservation of bird diversity and their habitats.

Key words: colonial birds, islands, dynamics of number, complex estimation

 
РОЗРОБКА СПОСОБІВ ОТРИМАННЯ І АНАЛІЗ ФЕРМЕНТНИХ ПРЕПАРАТІВ ПЕРОКСИДАЗ ТА КАТАЛАЗ ДЕЯКИХ ВИДІВ БАЗИДІОМІЦЕТІВ
Authors: Fedotov O. V. , Voloshko T. E.
Published: April 2016

A method for obtaining of enzyme preparations of enzyme preparations (EP) of peroxidases and catalases fungal extracellular and inracellular origin from cultures of Basidiomycetes was developed. The strains Flammulina velutipes F-vv, Agrocybe cylindracea 167; Fistulina hepatica Fh-08 and Pleurotus ostreatus P-208 and P-01 were used as producers of oxidoreductases. Strains were grown on modified glucose-peptone media. Fractionation was carried out by salting out the enzymes with ammonium sulfate at 40-70% saturation of peroxidases and 80% of saturation - for catalase. These solutions protein fractions was further purified by dialysis and gel filtration on Molselekt granules G-50 and G-75. The enzyme solution was subjected to freeze-drying. The individual characteristics of the enzyme preparations were found.  The individual characteristics of the enzyme preparations are the activity of enzymes, the protein content and amino-acid composition of enzyme preparations. It was established that strain F. velutipes F-vv was an active producer of intracellular and strain of A. cylindracea 167 was an active producer of extracellular peroxidase. The strains of P. ostreatus P-01 and P-208 were the active producers of extracellular catalase, and the strains of F. hepatica Fh-08 were active producers of intracellular catalase. The developed methods for producing of enzymes catalase and peroxidase preparations of extra-and intracellular origin provided new antioxidant enzymes, which have their own properties and application prospects in various sectors of industry and science research.

Key words: Basidiomycetes, peroxidases, catalases, enzyme preparation.
СТІЙКІСТЬ СТРУКТУРИ ВИДОВОГО РІЗНОМАНІТТЯ ОСТРІВНИХ УГРУПОВАНЬ ПТАХІВ
Authors: Matsyura M. V. , Zhdanova D. V. , Matsyura O. V.
Published: April 2016

Suggested approach is based on estimation of biodiversity stability that includes quality changes of diversity and number dynamics of bird species in the communities. We took the data from some model islands of Central, Eastern, and Western Sivash; Obitochniy Bay and Molochniy Estuary (Azov Sea basin). We used parameters from island bird communities of colonial breeding waterfowl. The results of analysis suggested that biodiversity stability correlated with biodiversity indices and species evenness index.

Key words: species diversity, stability, birds, communities.
BIRDS’ FLIGHT ENERGY PREDICTIONS AND APPLICATION TO RADAR-TRACKING STUDY
Authors: Matsyura Alex , Jankowski Kazimierz , Matsyura Marina
Published: April 2016

In offered research, we propose to observe diurnal soaring birds to check, whether there the positions of birds in formations are such, that the wing tip interval and depth meet the predictions of aerodynamic theory for achievement of maximal conservation of energy or predictions of the hypothesis of communication. We also can estimate, whether adverse conditions of a wind influence the ability of birds to support formation. We can assume that windy conditions during flight might make precision flight more difficult by inducing both unpredictable bird and vortex positions. To this, we need to found change in wing-tip spacing variation with increasing wind speed, suggesting or rejecting that in high winds bird skeins maintained similar variation to that on calm days. The interrelation between variation of mean depth and wind speed should prove this hypothesis. Little is known about the importance of depth, but in high winds the vortex is likely to break up more rapidly and its location become unpredictable the further back a bird flies; therefore, a shift towards skeins with more regular depths at high wind speeds may compensate for the unpredictability of the vortex locations. Any significant relationship between the standard deviation of wing-tip spacing and wind speed suggests that wind has a major effect on optimal positioning.

Results of proposed study will be used also as the auxiliary tool in radar research of bird migration, namely in research of flight features of soaring birds. It is extremely important to determine all pertinent characteristics of flock for model species, namely flocking birds.

Kew words: birds, flock, radar, flight

 
АДАПТИВНАЯ СТРАТЕГИЯ ОТБОРА ПРОБ ДЛЯ ОЦЕНКИ ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ СООБЩЕСТВ ПОЧВЕННЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ УРБАНИЗИРОВАННЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ НА РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ИЕРАРХИЧЕСКИХ УРОВНЯХ
Authors: Baljuk J. A. , Kunah O. N. , Zhukov A. V. , Zadorozhnaja G. A. , Ganzha D. S.
Published: April 2016

In work the algorithm of adaptive strategy of optimum spatial sampling for studying of the spatial organisation of communities of soil animals in the conditions of an urbanization have been presented. As operating variables the principal components obtained as a result of the analysis of the field data on soil penetration resistance, soils electrical conductivity and density of a forest stand, collected on a quasiregular grid have been used. The locations of experimental polygons have been stated by means of program ESAP. The sampling has been made on a regular grid within experimental polygons. The biogeocoenological estimation of experimental polygons have been made on a basis of A.L.Belgard's ecomorphic analysis. The spatial configuration of biogeocoenosis types has been established on the basis of the data of earth remote sensing and the analysis of digital elevation model. The algorithm was suggested which allows to reveal the spatial organisation of soil animal communities at investigated point, biogeocoenosis, and landscape.

Keywords: adaptive strategy, sampling, ecomorphic analysis, biogeocoenosis, soil animals
Imaginarios racializados y clasificación social: retos para el análisis cultural (y pistas para evitar una deriva decolonial esencialista)
Authors: Caggiano Sergio
Published: April 2016

El artículo aborda retos al estudio de los imaginarios y los sistemas de clasificación, así como sus potencialidades para comprender las desigualdades sociales. Analiza una disputa en torno a la presencia indígena en la historia y el presente de Argentina; más precisamente, imágenes visuales correspondientes a “repertorios hegemónicos” (manuales escolares y un álbum de fotografías históricas) y “repertorios alternativos” (principalmente sitios de Internet de organizaciones indígenas), que ofrecen explícitamente una mirada diferente. El artículo subraya la relevancia histórica y contemporánea de la racialización y la raza en tanto mecanismo y patrón de clasificación y categorización social. Reconociendo los aportes de la perspectiva decolonial a esta problemática, advierte sobre los riesgos de lo que presenta como una “deriva decolonial esencialista”, que se origina en encontrar el sustrato de la raza no ya en la biología o en la cultura, sino en una comprensión esencializada de la historia.
Cineforo y divulgación de la historia en el centenario de la Primera Guerra Mundial
Authors: Rodríguez Corrales Gloriana , Barboza Gutiérrez María
Published: April 2016

El propósito de este artículo es explorar las relaciones entre el cine y la historia, ya que el cine puede constituirse como una fuente para el estudio del pasado y la memoria, a la vez que sirve como medio de divulgación de las investigaciones históricas o punto de partida para el aprendizaje del pasado. Esta relación se enmarca dentro de un contexto cultural caracterizado por la presencia de pantallas y de la imagen visual, de ahí que el lenguaje cinematográfico adquiere una importancia significativa dentro del estudio de las representaciones del pasado. Se propone una metodología de divulgación por medio de cineforo para el caso específico de la conmemoración del Centenario de la Primera Guerra Mundial con el fin de entablar puentes entre los discursos académicos y la sociedad en general.
Opportunities in Plutonium Metallurgical Research*
Authors: Schwartz Adam J.
Published: April 2016

This is an exciting time to be involved in plutonium metallurgical research. Over the past few years, there have been significant advances in our understanding of the fundamental materials science of this unusual metal, particularly in the areas of self-irradiation induced aging of Pu, the equilibrium phase diagram, the homogenization of δ-phase alloys, the crystallography and morphology of the α'-phase resulting from the isothermal martensitic phase transformation, and the phonon dispersion curves, among many others. In addition, tremendous progress has been made, both experimentally and theoretically, in our understanding of the condensed matter physics and chemistry of the actinides, particularly in the area of electronic structure. Although these communities have made substantial progress, many challenges still remain. This brief overview will address a number of important challenges that we face in fully comprehending the metallurgy of Pu with a specific focus on aging and phase transformations.
The Madwoman on the Third Story: Jane Eyre in Space
Authors: Kreisel Deanna K.
Published: April 2016

A long-standing misreading ofJane Eyreis that Rochester's wife, Bertha Mason, is locked in the attic of Thornfield Hall. In fact, she resides on the third floor. This mistake has implications for readings of the novel and for recent critical methodologies such as “surface,” “denotative,” and “dialectical” reading strategies.Jane Eyreassociates the spaces of Thornfield with psychological registers that are in turn associated with types of meaning making. This essay delineates these registers by mapping them onto the Lacanian schema of imaginary, symbolic, and real orders, thus drawing out the novel's engagement with a nascent nineteenth-century depth psychology while noting how the novel itself militates against so-called surface reading.
Mold on the Cornbread: The Spore Paradigm of Southern Studies
Authors: Burnett Katharine A.
Published: April 2016

Recently, scholars have questioned the need for southern literary studies. Why have a separate field when so much scholarship in the past decade has sought to break down the southern isolationism that characterized studies of the South for most of the twentieth century? Global South studies and the new southern studies have shaped the field and pushed it in this direction, while transatlantic, transpacific, and even planetary studies are part of the academic vernacular.
The Other Side of Time: Theorizing the Planetary South
Authors: Heath R. Scott
Published: April 2016

This entry into southern studies spins off a certain strain of black cultural criticism, especially as it concerns my engagement with black speculative text and what I call speculative race theory. The black speculative project—what Alondra Nelson and others roughly twenty years ago were terming afrofuturism, an idea that has since gained popularity as a branded aesthetic interest—is driven by literary, visual, musical, and various other intellectual work that evidences a dynamic intersection of race, space, time, and newer technologies. Also prominent in much of this text is a sequence of tropes common to post-Souls cultural production, particularly narratives of containment and flight coupled with representations of selected subjectivities as more provisional than guaranteed. Al Green's tune “Gotta Find a New World” comes to mind as a poignant escapist critique, and Syreeta Wright's “Black Maybe” serves as a haunting inventory of tense potentialities. In these instances the futurist sentiment is present, but the expected tech might be slightly latent. Many of these anticipations—relatively successful or not—are launched from the south, from a south, or from a southern idea. This set of remarks is as much a black speculative venture as it is a southernist exercise. Or perhaps it is the one in theory because it is in fact the other.
Tar-Baby, Terrapin, and Trojan Horse— A Face-the-Music Cosmo Song from the University's Hind Tit
Authors: Cartwright Keith
Published: April 2016

What do you do when you come to know that you're stuck to the intractable stuff of other folks' and other times' making, stuck more deeply the more you rail against it for not answering to your hailing? What do you do when you're busted to pieces and can't pull it all together with the hum of a song? What do you do when you find yourself outside a structure that won't let you (or your loves) inside its towered walls and gated communities? What follow are prescriptions divined from fabulous tales of tar babies, terrapins, and supersized machine-horses. Southern myth-science. To borrow from others in this collection: hum/animal songs from outer space(s).
The Activist Turn in American Studies: A Pragmatic Response from the South
Authors: Fielder Elizabeth Rodriguez
Published: April 2016

My vision for the future of southern studies is for the field to develop as a site of activism. Since comparative civil rights scholarship and a focus on radical activism in the South are on the rise, I hope that work in these areas can teach us lessons about how to act on our ideas, to convert manifestos into practice. Any scholar of, or participant in, sixties (in the extended, poetic sense of the term) activism will recognize the frustration that accompanies mobilizing for change. As one of the characters in Toni Cade Bambara's novel The Salt Eaters, a community organizer from Georgia, states, “The dream is real, my friends. The failure to make it work is the unreality” (126). I call for us to reflect on the unreality of our limitations, and I suggest places where we could open dialogue that would push the field forward.
Screening the Twenty-First-Century South
Authors: Nunn Erich
Published: April 2016

Our understandings of early moments of southern literature and culture share some common frameworks. Representations (including self-representations) of the South in the nineteenth century, for example, revolve largely around plantation slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Similarly, we might think about the twentieth-century South as defined by Jim Crow segregation, the out-migration of blacks and working-class whites, and the civil rights movement and its aftermath. What are the issues, then, that structure the twenty-first-century southern imaginary? To what extent does it make sense to talk about “the South” as a unified conceptual, ideological, or geographic place? What does it mean to read, watch, listen to, study, and teach southern literature and culture in the twenty-first century? What do we mean by the terms southern and literature? What cultural forms and media are central to understanding twenty-first-century southern culture? What is the utility of the literary? How do southern literature and culture relate to the nation as a whole?
Atmospheric Exceptionalism inJane Eyre:Charlotte Brontë's Weather Wisdom
Authors: Pizzo Justine
Published: April 2016

As her family name suggests, Jane Eyre is exceptionally responsive to changes in the weather. In her eponymous “autobiography,” Jane's ability to predict future events and assume an embodied—yet occasionally omniscient—insight alerts us to the ways in which Charlotte Brontë‘s fiction leverages the rise of climate science as a basis for successful female authorship. In opposition to the prevailing belief of the Victorian medical establishment that storms prompted hysteria and exacerbated symptoms of women's biological “periodicity,” Brontë‘s first published novel draws the sensitive body and insightful mind of its female protagonist into close alliance. Far from reflecting a nervous pathology, Jane's empowered responses to the air demonstrate the ways in which meteorological concepts such as weather wisdom and lunarism prove vital to nineteenth-century fiction.
Nephron-Specific Deletion of Circadian Clock Gene Bmal1 Alters the Plasma and Renal Metabolome and Impairs Drug Disposition
Authors: Nikolaeva Svetlana , Ansermet Camille , Centeno Gabriel , Pradervand Sylvain , Bize Vincent , Mordasini David , Henry Hugues , Koesters Robert , Maillard Marc , Bonny Olivier , Tokonami Natsuko , Firsov Dmitri
Published: April 2016

The circadian clock controls a wide variety of metabolic and homeostatic processes in a number of tissues, including the kidney. However, the role of the renal circadian clocks remains largely unknown. To address this question, we performed a combined functional, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis in mice with inducible conditional knockout (cKO) of BMAL1, which is critically involved in the circadian clock system, in renal tubular cells (Bmal1
lox/lox/Pax8-rtTA/LC1 mice). Induction of cKO in adult mice did not produce obvious abnormalities in renal sodium, potassium, or water handling. Deep sequencing of the renal transcriptome revealed significant changes in the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways and organic anion transport in cKO mice compared with control littermates. Furthermore, kidneys from cKO mice exhibited a significant decrease in the NAD+-to-NADH ratio, which reflects the oxidative phosphorylation-to-glycolysis ratio and/or the status of mitochondrial function. Metabolome profiling showed significant changes in plasma levels of amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, and lipids. In-depth analysis of two selected pathways revealed a significant increase in plasma urea level correlating with increased renal Arginase II activity, hyperargininemia, and increased kidney arginine content as well as a significant increase in plasma creatinine concentration and a reduced capacity of the kidney to secrete anionic drugs (furosemide) paralleled by an approximate 80% decrease in the expression level of organic anion transporter 3 (SLC22a8). Collectively, these results indicate that the renal circadian clocks control a variety of metabolic/homeostatic processes at the intrarenal and systemic levels and are involved in drug disposition.
State Capacity and Public Goods: Institutional Change, Human Capital, and Growth in Early Modern Germany
Authors: Dittmar Jeremiah E. , Meisenzahl Ralf R.
Published: April 2016

What are the origins and consequences of the state as a provider of public goods? We study legal reforms that established mass public education and increased state capacity in German cities during the 1500s. These fundamental changes in public goods provision occurred where ideological competition during the Protestant Reformation interacted with popular politics at the local level. We document that cities that formalized public goods provision in the 1500s began differentially producing and attracting upper tail human capital and grew to be significantly larger in the long-run. We study plague outbreaks in a narrow time period as exogenous shocks to local politics and find support for a causal interpretation of the relationship between public goods institutions, human capital, and growth. More broadly, we provide evidence on the origins of state capacity directly targeting welfare improvement.
Molecular diagnosis of the brown root rot disease agent Phellinus noxius on trees and in soil by rDNA ITS analysis
Authors: Wang Yong-Feng , Meng Han , Gu Victor W. , Gu Ji-Dong
Published: April 2016

Phellinus noxius (P. noxius) is an important pathogen that causes brown root rot of trees in tropical and sub-tropical areas and has led to severe damage to trees. A quick and accurate diagnostic technique is essential to the timely confirmation of the pathogen and possible treatment. In this study, a fast, sensitive and accurate approach of molecular technique was used to diagnose the brown root rot pathogen on trees and in soils of subtropical Hong Kong. Two pairs of specific PCR primers were used to amplify the target rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for both tree tissues and soil samples. The amplified ITS fragments were then sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically for the diagnostic identification of the pathogen P. noxius. The results showed that 13 of 38 suspected trees in Hong Kong were infected with P. noxius through molecular detection. The pathogen showed no specific preference to any particular tree species. Quantitative PCR was applied to soils grown with trees identified both positive and negative for P. noxius, but the soils with healthy trees were also found positive for P. noxius. For the first time, P. noxius was reported to infect a wide range of tree species in Hong Kong and widely presented in soils, probably serving as a reservoir for the pathogen. Through this study, it is proposed that P. noxius is a soil-borne pathogen, which increases its infectivity when trees start to grow in the soil as a means in addition to the previously proposed root-to-root contact.
Effects of trivalent chromium on biomass growth, water use efficiency and distribution of nutrient ele-ments in rice seedlings
Authors: Yu Xiao-Zhang , Feng Xing-Hui
Published: April 2016

This paper presents an investigation of the effects of trivalent chromium on biomass growth (RGR), water use efficiency (WUE) and distribution of nutrient elements in young rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. XZX 45) exposed to chromium nitrate (Cr(III)) hydroponically. Results indicated that phytotoxicity of Cr(III) to rice seedlings was apparent, showing an linear decrease in both RGR and WUE with increasing Cr(III) concentrations. Using the Leven-berg-Marquardt Algorithm, the effective concentrations (EC) obtained from the RGR were always smaller than these from WUE, indicating that the former was more sensitive to change of Cr(III) application than the latter. Although a dose-dependent total accumulation rate of Cr in plant materials was observed, the translocation of Cr into shoots was a restricted process during phytotransport of Cr within plant materials. Results also showed that the effect of Cr(III) application on uptake and distribution of nutrient elements in rice seedlings was variable. In conclusion, the toxic response of young rice seedlings to Cr(III) was obvious and inhibitory effects were highly dependent on the total accumulation rate of Cr in plant materials.
Occurrence of antibiotic resistance and integronase genes in Taihu Lake
Authors: Wang Jian Wang , Pu Haiqing , Ye Lin , Chen Liangyan , Zhang Xuxiang
Published: April 2016

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), a potential threat to the health of humans and animals, have been widely detected in various environments. However, not much information about ARGs in freshwater lakes have been recorded. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of 17 kinds of ARGs and three types of integronase genes in Taihu Lake (China), an important drinking water source for local residents. Fecal coliforms were also isolated from the water and sediments for antimicrobial susceptibility tests and related ARGs detection. Results showed that tetracycline resistance gene tetC, sulfanilamide resistance genes sul1 and sul2, and class 1 integronase gene int1 were present in all water and sediment samples. TetG was present in all water samples but was mainly distributed in sediment samples from the northern region of Taihu Lake. β-Lactam resistance gene blaOXA-1 was present in all water samples but was absent in the sediment samples. TetM and tetO were found present in water and sediment samples from the western area of the lake. Remarkably, 95% of isolated fecal coliforms were resistant to trimethoprim and multi-drug resistant isolates were also observed. Sul1 and tetC genes were found to be carried by isolates resistant to corresponding antibiotics. This study provided baseline information about the occurrence of ARGs and integronase genes in Taihu Lake and the results may extend our knowledge about antibiotic resistance of microbial communities in the lake.
A novel bacterium involved in the degradation of 2-methylindole isolated from sediment of Inner Deep Bay of Hong Kong
Authors: Yip Karen Choi-Wan , Gu Ji-Dong GU
Published: April 2016

A bacterial strain, designated as MPKc, was isolated from the mudflat sediment of Mai Po Inner Deep Bay of Hong Kong Mai Po Nature Reserve by enrichment culturing with 2-methylindole as the sole source of carbon and energy. The microorganism was a Gram-negative, rod-shaped (0.4–0.6 μm × 1.0–2.2 μm) and aerobic bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MPKc should be assigned as a novel bacterium, at least, at the species level. The 16S rDNA sequence most similiar to that of strain MPKc was Azoarcus evansii (94%) from available 16S rDNA sequences of the GenBank, indicating that strain MPKc was a member of the β-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Biochemical tests showed that strain MPKc was able to reduce nitrate to nitrogen. Carbon sources utilized by this strain included adipic acid, malate, citrate and phenylacetic acid although it only grew weakly on glucose, arabinose, mannose, mannitol, N-acetyl-glucosamine, maltose and gluconate. Strain MPKc showed no growth on capric acid. Its optimal growth occurred at 30°C, pH 6.5–7.5 and salinity 5–10‰. Strain MPKc was capable of degrading 80 μM 2-methylindole in 7 days under aerobic conditions. The possible chemical pathway for 2-methylindole degradation is through oxidation at 3-position or/and 2-position of the pyrrole ring.
Proposal of possible pathway of fluorene biodegrada-tion by Citrobacter sp. FL5
Authors: Zhu Xuejiao Zhu , Huang Minsheng , Zhang Qiuzhuo , Achal Varenyam
Published: April 2016

The biodegradation ability of Citrobacter sp. FL5 on fluorene was investigated in the present study. The bac-terial isolate was identified based on biochemical test, physiological and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Fluorene biodegradation was studied in the liquid media at the initial concentration of 50 mg L−1 fluorene at different pH values (6, 7, 8 and 9) and temperatures (25, 30, 37 and 45°C). Citrobacter sp. FL5 showed maximum performance of fluorene degradation ability at pH 7 and 30°C where it degrades 98% fluorene in liquid media. Furthermore, the isolate degrades 97.5% and 96% of 100 and 150 mg L–1 fluorene respectively at 168 hrs. The possible metabolic pathway for fluorene biodegradation by Citrobacter sp. FL5 was deduced by identification of metabolites through Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. 5 types of metabolites that were detected and identified were dibenzofuran, 9-fluorenylmethanol, methyl benzilate, piperonylic acid and catechol. This study was the first to report and describe the ability of Citrobacter sp. in detail for degradation of higher fluorene concentrations at various pH and temperatures ranges.
Molecular evidence of the existence of anaerobic ammonia oxidation bacteria in the gut of polychaete (Neanthes glandicincta)
Authors: Li Meng , GU Ji-Dong
Published: April 2016

Neanthes are one of the most important groups of polychaete in coastal sediments, which play an important role on the nutrient cycling in coastal sediments. Here we report on the existence of anammox bacteria in the gut of polychaete Neanthes glandicincta based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Three distinct clusters of anammox bacteria are found in different gut sections of N. glandicincta, and one of them is considered as a novel, gut specific anammox bacteria after comparing with the anammox bacteria recovered from surrounding pre-digested sediment. The uniform axial distribution of anammox bacteria in different gut sections of N. glandicincta is also found in present study. These results extend our knowledge of microbial ecology of anammox bacteria in the natural environments.
Draft genome sequence of Thauera sp. DTG from a denitrifying quinoline degrading microbial consortium
Authors: Wu Guojun , Zhang Menghui , Wei Chaochun , Wang Yun , Yao Xiangyu , Zhao Liping , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: April 2016

The draft genome sequence of Thauera sp. DTG was reconstructed from a metagenome of a denitrifying quinoline degrading microbial consortium. The organism is most closely related to Thauera aminoaromatic S2 and Thauera sp. MZ1T and is a facultative anaerobe. It is predicted to take the central role for quinoline denitrifying degradation.
Study of association of family history and consanguinity with congenital hearing loss
Authors: B. H. Shrikrishna , G. Deepa
Published: April 2016

Background: Knowledge about the association of family history and consanguinity with congenital hearing loss is vital in order to prevent occurrence of such morbidity in future generations. The aim of the study was to find the strength of association between family history and consanguinity and congenital hearing loss.

Methods: A case control study was done using 50 congenitally deaf children and 50 children with normal hearing. A detailed history was taken from the parents with regard to family history of hearing loss and consanguinity.

Results: In the case group, 28% children had a family history of hearing loss and in the control group; none had a family history of hearing loss. In the case group, 48% of the children had parents with consanguinity. In the control group, 28% of the children had parents with consanguinity.

Conclusions: Family history and consanguinity play significant role in children having congenital hearing loss. Hence, avoidance of consanguineous marriages and pre-marital genetic counselling can prevent congenital hearing loss.
Tuberculous mycobacteria bacilli fluorescence and compare with Ziehl- Neelsen stain in fine-needle aspiration cytology of tubercular lymphnode
Authors: Krishna Mani , Kumar Adesh
Published: April 2016

Background: Tuberculosis is infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are various methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis such as direct clinical material examination of tubercular bacilli by Ziehl – Neelsen (ZN) staining, demonstration of tubercular bacilli by auramine – rhodamine (AR) staining and autofluorescence (AF).

Methods: Present study was done clinically suspected tubercular patients. All received samples Zn stain, fluorescent stain and PAP stain were applied.

Results: Among the clinically suspected patients 88 was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Female preponderance was noted accounting for 60.23% (53/88) of cases. Of the 88 aspirates, the smear positivity for acid fast bacilli (AFB) on the ZN method was 37.5% (33/88) while the positivity increased to 81.82% (72/88) on the AR fluorescent method and 86.36% (76/88) on AF.
Conclusions: AF staining is more sensitive than the auramine – rhodamine fluorescent and ZN staining in demonstration of mycobacterium bacilli in fine needle aspiration cytology of tubercular lymphnode.
Computed tomography of paranasal sinuses for early and proper diagnosis of nasal and sinus pathology
Authors: Verma Jagram , Tyagi Sushant , Srivastava Mohit , Agarwal Aman
Published: April 2016

Background: Pathological lesions of the paranasal sinuses include a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from inflammation to neoplasms both benign and malignant. Most patient of common cold present with symptoms of nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, headache and nasal allergy etc. The patient of paranasal mass usually present with facial deformity, swelling or repeated episodes of epistaxis. The aim of the study was to establish the role of CT in evaluation of pathologies and their proper early diagnosis.

Methods: It is a prospective study. A total of 100 patients who were referred to our department with clinical suspicion of PNS disease underwent CT evaluation of PNS using 64 multi slice CT scanner from December 2012 to October 2015. 

Results: Out of 100 cases 51 (51%) cases were males and rest 49 (49%) patients were females. The majority of the cases were of age group 16-30 which were 37case (37%) The most common symptoms were nasal obstruction (50%), followed by nasal discharge (49%), headache in 20% cases. Most common anatomical variations seen was deviated nasal septum (49%) more commonly on right side next common was agger nasi in 48% of cases. Maxillary sinuses are most commonly involved in the study (82 cases), followed by the ethmoid sinuses (ant. group 77 cases, post group 40 case) and frontal sinus 55 cases. The most common pathology seen was masses in 30% cases followed by DNS in 21% cases. The most common form of mucosal thickening noted is circumferential type seen in 7% cases. The most common pathology involving the sinuses was sinusitis (30%) followed by polyp (25%).

Conclusions: Most of the patients with PNS pathology were from 2nd and 3rd decade. Slight male preponderance was noted. Majority of the patients presented with nasal obstruction. Most common anatomical variant seen was DNS. Most common sinus involved was maxillary. Sinonasal pathologies were the most common followed by pure nasal or pure sinosal. The most common pathology was inflammatory (74%). The most common benign pathologies were polyps with 92% accuracy. 15% of cases had malignancy with diagnostic accuracy of 90%.
Mucocele of the nasal septum post inferior turbunectomy
Authors: Halawani Roa Talal , Banjar Adel
Published: April 2016

Paranasal mucocele is a benign cystic lesion. Mostly in the fronto-ethmoidal sinuses. Mucocele of the nasal septum is extremely rare. We report a septum mucocele in a 20-year-old male presenting with bilateral nasal obstruction occurred after inferior turbunectomy. Clinical and radiological features are presented and discussed.
Older people’s experience of radiotherapy services
Authors: Hogan Louise , O'Donovan Anita
Published: April 2016

The highest prevalence of cancer is seen in the older population. With an increase in average life expectancy, the age demographics of cancer patients have also increased. Studies have shown that health professionals are often unaware of the fact that older patients present different needs as compared to younger patients. Radiotherapy departments may also lack the necessary facilities to cater for additional care and support for older patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of elderly cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. A qualitative approach was used in this experimental research. One focus group (n = 4) and two individual interviews were conducted with participants who had previously undergone radiotherapy in Ireland. The question schedule investigated key areas of care: travelling to care, emotional difficulties, information needs, financial costs and follow-up care. A thematic long table method was used to analyse the data. Department delays, radiotherapy staff, car-parking, embarrassment and lack of self-confidence, information overload, as well as poor emphasis on support groups were the impact themes identified. One of the main issues identified was in relation to the timing of information and “information overload”. Further investigation is required to elucidate this area.
Plasma Glucose and Serum Ceruloplasmin in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Authors: Kumar Jeppu Ashok , Augusthy Asha , Ashok Kumar Kavitha , Habtemariam Solomon ,   Biochemistry Unit, International Medical School, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,   Department of Biochemistry, Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Chalakka, North Kuthivathodu P.O., Ernakulam District, Kerala 683594, India.,   Otolaryngology Unit, International Medical School, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Published: April 2016

Diabetes mellitus type 2 and metabolic syndrome are conditions associated with insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus type 2. Plasma glucose (fasting/postprandial) and serum ceruloplasmin levels and their relationship were studied. Study population consisted of 150 individuals—50 individuals with diabetes mellitus type 2, 50 individuals with metabolic syndrome, and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Plasma levels of fasting and postprandial glucose were measured along with serum ceruloplasmin. Data was analyzed by ANOVA and Pearson correlation. The fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels in metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type 2 were increased when compared to control. Serum ceruloplasmin level was 327.8 ± 68.9 in control, 227.3 ± 46.8 in metabolic syndrome, and 194.0 ± 49.6 in diabetes mellitus type 2 individuals. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the fasting, postprandial plasma glucose, and serum ceruloplasmin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Toxicity Induced after Subchronic Administration of the Synthetic Food Dye Tartrazine in Adult Rats, Role of Oxidative Stress
Authors: El Golli Narges , Bini-Dhouib Ines , Jrad Aicha , Boudali Imene , Nasri Basma , Belhadjhmida Nadia , El Fazaa Saloua ,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Pasteur Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, LMBA, Tunis, Tunisia.
Published: April 2016

The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxic potential of tartrazine, a food color, in different tissues in adult rat: blood, liver, kidneys, and spleen. Tartrazine was administered orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight to adult male Wistar rats during a period of 30 days. Tartrazine treatment led to an increase in platelets count, a reduction in peripheral lymphocytes and in spleen T CD8-lymphocytes. Furthermore, tartrazine increased the activities of hepatocellular enzymes and promoted changes in kidney biomarkers. In order to explore the possible mechanism involved, oxidative-stress assessment was performed. Results identified critical oxidative alterations in all tested organs, as shown by the promotion of lipid peroxidation and the modification of endogenous antioxidant-defense enzymes. Thus, tartrazine is able to induce in adult rats’ hematotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and liver and kidney injuries by changing the whole balance between oxidants and antioxidants.
PENGGUNAAN SPOOFING DAN SSH FORWARDING UNTUK KEAMANAN SERTA FILTRASI DATA PADA JARINGAN
Authors: Hariadi Selamet
Published: April 2016

Teknologi Internet memang sungguh fenomenal & memberikan efek yang baik bagi penggunanya. Namun seiring perkembangannya, transportasi data melalui jaringan memang rawan disadap orang yang lain. Spoofing merupakan salah satu cara untuk melihat dan membuat backdoor dari sebuah jaringan. SSH Forwarding pada penggunaanya adalah pada efektivitas pengiriman data agar tepat pada data server atau client yang dituju. Penggabungan spoofing & SSH Forwarding dimaksudkan agar data yang direquest dari client dapat lebih privasi atau menjaga sifat keamanan  dan penggunaan spoofing pada server lokal ditujukan agak ada filtrasi data atau address yang akan disampaikan ke client yang meminta

Kata Kunci: Internet, Spoofing, SSH Forwarding, Keamanan Data , Filtrasi Data
DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL TO VISUALIZE SMALL SPATIAL OBJECT IN 3D
Authors: Crysdian Cahyo
Published: April 2016

 An effort to develop a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for small scale spatial objects is presented in this paper. The motivation of the research is to visualize a small spatial object as detail as possible in 3D, thus the presentation of the object in term of a computer model is similar to its presentation in reality. To reach this objective, the research was conducted in four stages i.e. elevation data retrieval, 3D visualization and its enhancement, and the development of blank data removal. Elevation data is obtained from SRTM dataset that has 3 arc-second or approximately 90 meters data resolution. Data obtained from SRTM is then visualized in 3D, in which visualization is enriched with view angle setting. Results of visualization show that enhancement to SRTM data set is required to present elevation data in 3D. It is due to the existence of blank data contained in the elevation data retrieved from SRTM. Therefore, this paper proposes two methods to enhance SRTM dataset i.e. population average and neighbors average, in order to counter the existence of blank data. The first method uses the population average of statistic to eliminate blank data, while the latter relies on the average value of its neighboring pixels. Comparison among those methods is held in this research to disclose the performance of each method. Result of comparison shows that the method based on neighbors average outperform population average method to eliminate blank data contained in SRTM data set. Thus, neighbor average delivers better 3D visualization for small scale spatial object.

Keywords: Digital Elevation Model, 3D Visualization, Spatial
SEGMENTASI CITRA X-RAY THORAX MENGGUNAKAN LEVEL SET
Authors: Hariyadi Mokhamad Amin
Published: April 2016

Untuk mengurangi kelemahan perhitungan cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) secara manual maka dilakukan perhitungan secara semi otomatis. Dalam menentukan cardiothoracic ratio secara semi-otomatis diperlukan segmentasi rongga dada yaitu organ paru-paru. Pada penelitian ini akan dilakukan segmentasi organ tersebut dengan menggunakan Geometric active contour (level set). Metode segmentasi ini dipilih , karena level set ini mampu berevolusi mengikuti penyebaran kurva, kurva akan berkembang dan berhenti pada batas obyek dalam suatu image.Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menyediakan alat bantu (tool) medis untuk membantu penentuan nilai CTR secara semi-otomatis yang bisa digunakan untuk berbagai hal seperti screening masal citra X-ray, alat bantu radiographer di daerah atau di puskesmas untuk bisa secara dini melaporkan adanya indikasi penyakit jantung, instrumen praktis dan otomatis bagi ahli radiologi.Penelitian ini menggunakan 20 citra X-ray paru-paru.Untuk menguji kinerja dari metode yang diusulkan hasil segmentasi level set dibandingkan dengan segmentasi manual. Dan diperoleh hasil sensitifitas 93,36%, akurasi 96,17% dan spesifitas 96,78% untuk paru-paru kiri serta sensitifitas 93,47%, akurasi 95,88% dan spesifitas 96,31% untuk paru-paru.

Kata kunci: cardiothoracic ratio, citra x-ray, active contour, level set
MESIN PENCARI AYAT AL QURAN MENGGUNAKAN INEXACT STRING MATCHING
Authors: Anwar Agus Sofiyan , Abidin Zainal , Kusumawati Ririen
Published: April 2016

Dengan adanya teknologi digital, al Quran yang dahulu berupa teks manual sekarang sudah dapat dijumpai versi digitalnya. Hal tersebut memicu pengembangan perangkat lunak yang membantu mendapatkan informasi dari teks al Quran, seperti: pencarian ayat berdasarkan kata, frase maupun tema, terjemahan al Quran, tafsir al Quran. Dalam kaitannya dengan pencarian ayat berdasarkan kata atau frase, pada umumnya perangkat lunak yang ada menggunakan teknik exact string matching, yaitu teknik pencarian ayat yang sesuai dengan kata inputan secara tepat. Teknik tersebut sangat sesuai jika pemakai perangkat lunak mengetikkan kata atau frase yang akan dicari dengan benar. Tetapi jika pemakai salah dalam mengetikkan kata inputan, perangkat lunak tidak memberikan solusi atau kemungkinan-kemungkinan dari ayat yang dimaksud. Penelitian ini memadukan teknik stemming dan teknik exact string matching. Stemming berperan sebagai preprocessing untuk exact string matching. Stemming digunakan untuk menemukan kata dasar dari kata berimbuhan dengan cara menghilangkan semua imbuhan baik yang terdiri dari prefiks, sufiks, infiks, konfiks, transfiks, maupun interfiks, namun pada penelitian ini hanya menghilangkan prefiks dan sufiks saja, sebagai contoh jika kata berimbuhan adalah يسطرون maka kata dasarnya adalah سطر. Exact string matching adalah  pencocokan string secara tepat dengan susunan karakter dalam string yang dicocokkan memiliki jumlah maupun urutan karakter yang sama, sebagai contoh kata سطر akan menunjukkan kecocokan hanya dengan kata سطر. Dalam kaitannya dengan pencarian ayat, hasil stemming akan digunakan sebagai kata kunci (keyword) pencarian pada database indeks al Quran. Perpaduan tersebut dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan hasil pencarian ayat, dan selanjutnya dapat dikategorikan sebagai teknik inexact string matching. Hasil uji coba membuktikan bahwa teknik inexact string matching dapat diimplementasikan untuk mendukung pencarian ayat al Quran dengan nilai F-measure tertinggi pada data uji coba adalah 100 % dan nilai F-measure terendah adalah 66.66 %. Uji coba juga membuktikan bahwa teknik inexact string matching lebih banyak memberikan solusi/kemungkinan dari ayat yang dimaksud dari pada teknik exact string matching.

 
Kata kunci: Arabic Stop Word, Arabic Stemming, Exact String Matching, Inexact Matching