bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RNA-Puzzles Round II: assessment of RNA structure prediction programs applied to three large RNA structures
Authors: Miao Zhichao , Adamiak Ryszard W. , Blanchet Marc-Frédérick , Boniecki Michal , Bujnicki Janusz M. , Chen Shi-Jie , Cheng Clarence , Chojnowski Grzegorz , Chou Fang-Chieh , Cordero Pablo , Cruz José Almeida , Ferré-D'Amaré Adrian R. , Das Rhiju , Ding Feng , Dokholyan Nikolay V. , Dunin-Horkawicz Stanislaw , Kladwang Wipapat , Krokhotin Andrey , Lach Grzegorz , Magnus Marcin , Major François , Mann Thomas H. , Masquida Benoît , Matelska Dorota , Meyer Mélanie , Peselis Alla , Popenda Mariusz , Purzycka Katarzyna J. , Serganov Alexander , Stasiewicz Juliusz , Szachniuk Marta , Tandon Arpit , Tian Siqi , Wang Jian , Xiao Yi , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Jinwei , Zhao Peinan , Zok Tomasz , Westhof Eric
Published: April 2015

This paper is a report of a second round of RNA-Puzzles, a collective and blind experiment in three-dimensional (3D) RNA structure prediction. Three puzzles, Puzzles 5, 6, and 10, represented sequences of three large RNA structures with limited or no homology with previously solved RNA molecules. A lariat-capping ribozyme, as well as riboswitches complexed to adenosylcobalamin and tRNA, were predicted by seven groups using RNAComposer, ModeRNA/SimRNA, Vfold, Rosetta, DMD, MC-Fold, 3dRNA, and AMBER refinement. Some groups derived models using data from state-of-the-art chemical-mapping methods (SHAPE, DMS, CMCT, and mutate-and-map). The comparisons between the predictions and the three subsequently released crystallographic structures, solved at diffraction resolutions of 2.5–3.2 Å, were carried out automatically using various sets of quality indicators. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the state of present-day de novo prediction abilities as well as the limitations of these state-of-the-art methods. All of the best prediction models have similar topologies to the native structures, which suggests that computational methods for RNA structure prediction can already provide useful structural information for biological problems. However, the prediction accuracy for non-Watson–Crick interactions, key to proper folding of RNAs, is low and some predicted models had high Clash Scores. These two difficulties point to some of the continuing bottlenecks in RNA structure prediction. All submitted models are available for download at http://ahsoka.u-strasbg.fr/rnapuzzles/.
Genetic and structural analysis of the essential fission yeast RNA polymerase II CTD phosphatase Fcp1
Authors: Schwer Beate , Ghosh Agnidipta , Sanchez Ana M. , Lima Christopher D. , Shuman Stewart
Published: April 2015

Protein phosphatases regulate mRNA synthesis and processing by remodeling the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol2) to dynamically inscribe a Pol2 CTD code. Fission yeast Fcp1 (SpFcp1) is an essential 723-amino acid CTD phosphatase that preferentially hydrolyzes Ser2-PO4 of the YS2PTSPS repeat. The SpFcp1 catalytic domain (aa 140–580) is composed of a DxDxT acyl-phosphatase module (FCPH) and a BRCT module. Here we conducted a genetic analysis of SpFcp1, which shows that (i) phosphatase catalytic activity is required for vegetative growth of fission yeast; (ii) the flanking amino-terminal domain (aa 1–139) and its putative metal-binding motif C99H101Cys109C112 are essential; (iii) the carboxy-terminal domain (aa 581–723) is dispensable; (iv) a structurally disordered internal segment of the FCPH domain (aa 330–393) is dispensable; (v) lethal SpFcp1 mutations R271A and R299A are rescued by shortening the Pol2 CTD repeat array; and (vi) CTD Ser2-PO4 is not the only essential target of SpFcp1 in vivo. Recent studies highlight a second CTD code involving threonine phosphorylation of a repeat motif in transcription elongation factor Spt5. We find that Fcp1 can dephosphorylate Thr1-PO4 of the fission yeast Spt5 CTD nonamer repeat T1PAWNSGSK. We identify Arg271 as a governor of Pol2 versus Spt5 CTD substrate preference. Our findings implicate Fcp1 as a versatile sculptor of both the Pol2 and Spt5 CTD codes. Finally, we report a new 1.45 Å crystal structure of SpFcp1 with Mg2+ and AlF3 that mimics an associative phosphorane transition state of the enzyme-aspartyl-phosphate hydrolysis reaction.
Blockade or deletion of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is not protective in a murine model of sepsis
Authors: Sand Claire A. , Starr Anna , Nandi Manasi , Grant Andrew D.
Published: April 2015

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response triggered by microbial infection that can cause cardiovascular collapse, insufficient tissue perfusion and multi-organ failure. The cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is expressed in vascular endothelium and causes vasodilatation, but excessive TRPV4 activation leads to profound hypotension and circulatory collapse - key features of sepsis pathogenesis. We hypothesised that loss of TRPV4 signaling would protect against cardiovascular dysfunction in a mouse model of sepsis (endotoxaemia).

Multi-parameter monitoring of conscious systemic haemodynamics (by radiotelemetry probe), mesenteric microvascular blood flow (laser speckle contrast imaging) and blood biochemistry (iSTAT blood gas analysis) was carried out in wild type (WT) and TRPV4 knockout (KO) mice. Endotoxaemia was induced by a single intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 12.5 mg/kg) and systemic haemodynamics monitored for 24 h. Blood flow recording was then conducted under terminal anaesthesia after which blood was obtained for haematological/biochemical analysis. No significant differences were observed in baseline haemodynamics or mesenteric blood flow. Naïve TRPV4 KO mice were significantly acidotic relative to WT counterparts. Following induction of sepsis, all mice became significantly hypotensive, though there was no significant difference in the degree of hypotension between TRPV4 WT and KO mice. TRPV4 KO mice exhibited a higher sepsis severity score. While septic WT mice became significantly hypernatraemic relative to the naïve state, this was not observed in septic KO mice. Mesenteric blood flow was inhibited by topical application of the TRPV4 agonist GSK1016790A in naïve WT mice, but enhanced 24 h following LPS injection. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, loss of TRPV4 signaling (either through gene deletion or pharmacological antagonism) did not attenuate sepsis-induced cardiovascular dysfunction: in fact, pathology appeared to be modestly exaggerated in mice lacking TRPV4. Local targeting of TRPV4 signalling may be more beneficial than global inhibition in sepsis treatment.
«Development» and «Self-Development» Concepts Co-Relation Taking into Account Pupils’ Teenage Years
Authors: Киселёва  , Kiseleva Yu. , Иванов  , Ivanov A. , Куликова  , Kulikova S.
Published: April 2015

Development and self-development interrelation is considered

in this paper. Teenage years’ specifics in self-development,

co-relation of self-development with self-determination and selfrealization

have been shown.
The five principles of the functioning of complex systems, systems of the third type
Authors: Еськов  , Eskov V. , Филатова  , Filatova O. , Хадарцев  , Khadartsev Aleksandr , Хадарцева  , Khadartseva K.
Published: April 2015

The article is devoted to the basis of the five principles that characterize complex systems, systems of the third type. The authors provide the opportunities caused from the solutions of the equations of kinematics and dynamics. Uncertainty, unpredictability and uniqueness of complex systems, which include the human body, are demonstrated. The first principle, the postulate of synergetics, is associated with homogeneous systems in which the dynamics of the behavior of the system as a whole and not its individual elements, - is studied. The second principle of the organization of the systems of the third type - the glimmering property, - it is impossible to repeat the motion trajectory in phase space. This position is confirmed by the tremorogramm analysis. The third and fourth principles are evolution and teleological motion vectors of such systems to the final state, de-scribed not a point, but the area of phase space, quasi-attractor. The fifth property is the possibility of the output coordinates of the state vector to outside at 3, 10 and more Sigma, which ensures the survivability of biological systems.
Alcoholism as a factor of development and spread of diseases (analytical review)
Authors: Курылев  , Kurylev V. , Успенская  , Uspenskaya O. , Потемина  , Potemina T. , Шевченко  , Shevchenko E. , Рудая  , Rudaya P.
Published: April 2015

This review presents the modern medical views on the nature of alcoholism and its effect on the development and spread of various diseases. The article characterizes alcoholism pathogenesis on the molecular level, presents the evidence on the disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, immune system, cell death, modulation of mitochondrial permeability and modulation of gene expression due to the alcoholic effect. Alcohol is caracte-rized as a root cause of development and progression of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, pneumonia), cancer, diabetes, nervous system diseases (alcoholic polyneuropathy, Wernicke´s encephalopathy), cardiovascular dis-eases (essential hypertension, ischemic heart disease), hepatic and pancreatic diseases. The review also focuses on the role of the alcohol in the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydial infection, ureaplasma infection, gonorrhea, HIV, herpes simplex, trichomoniasis. The influence of several factors was detected. The first factor relates to the changes occurring in organism as a result of excessive alcohol con-sumption - in particular, to the weakening of the immune system and / or a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment. Another factor dismissed due to antisocial behaviour, often associated with individuals suffering from alcohol dependence
The analysis of patient’s care quality in hospitals
Authors: Василькина  , Vasilkina O. , Шукшин  , Shukshin V. , Смирнова  , Smirnova O. , Блинов  , Blinov Dmitry , Качаева  , Kachaeva Yu.
Published: April 2015

Based on the developed expert case record for evaluating quality and practices of medical care the most significant and common defects in medical service are identified in the paper. They include incomplete anamnesis on admission (48%), insufficient physical examination (25%), lack of staged diagnosis (16%), ab-sence of correction in the dynamics of therapeutic actions (11%), partial description of patient’s condition in journals and examination data (32%). However implementation of full and timely laboratory and instrumental examinations (93%), as well as timeliness of diagnosing in 85% of cases are revealed. The program of therapeu-tic measures was chosen rationally (79%). Effectiveness and high results of medical service were achieved in 78% of cases. Advices for the rehabilitation of a patient in accordance with diagnosis and assistance rendered were given professionally and in full volume (93%). The use of a formalized approach and a mathematic model, conversion of the function of quantitative assessment of quality from 0 to 1 to the usual five-point system of evaluation of expert activity results make it possible to level difficulties in perception of ranking and simplify understanding of the assessment criteria. Detection of defects in time, reduction of the number of errors in the process of quality control, intensification of diagnostic and therapeutic measures, as well as of diagnosing should serve as a basis for optimizing medical and organizational technologies to render medical care to patients.
Distrust in the Balance: The Emergence and Development of Intergroup Distrust in a Court of Law
Authors: Bijlsma-Frankema Katinka , Sitkin Sim B. , Weibel Antoinette
Published: April 2015

Despite recent attention to trust, comparatively little is known about distrust as distinct from trust. In this paper, we drew on case study data of a reorganized court of law, where intergroup distrust had grown between judges and administrators, to develop a dynamic theory of distrust. We used insights from the literatures on distrust, conflict escalation, and professional–organization relations to guide the analysis of our case data. Our research is consistent with insights on distrust previously postulated, but we were able to extend and make more precise the perceptions and behaviors that make up the elements of the self-amplifying cycle of distrust development, how these elements are related, and the mechanisms of amplification that drive the cycle. To help guide and focus future research, we modeled the process by which distrust emerges and develops, and we drew inferences on how it can be repaired.
The Trauma Time Line
Authors: Dayton Tian
Published: April 2015

Working with trauma is a process of bringing split emotional material to the level of consciousness and placing it into both the framework of the client's personality and the context of his or her life. Trauma-related memories may be indistinct, vague, confused, and fragmented. Relational trauma often has an ongoing aspect to it, as it is laced into relational dynamics that wax and wane over time. This makes it difficult to have a sense of a beginning, middle, or endpoint; thus clients may carry a feeling of having suffered year after year without breaks. The Trauma Time Line allows clients to get a basic sense of how trauma may have clustered in their lives and which parts of their lives may have been relatively free of trauma. The Trauma Time Line can also reveal how early trauma patterns may have affected further psychological and emotional development and how they may have continued to be recreated throughout clients' lives. The Trauma Time Line may be done as a paper-and-pencil activity, put into sociometrically aligned group processes, or serve as a warm-up for focused vignettes and psychodramas. I developed the Trauma Time Line in the 1980s and first published it in The Living Stage.
Understanding the aims of the childhood influenza immunisation programme
Authors: Wright Jane , Voogd Caroline
Published: April 2015

In 2013, the childhood influenza immunisation programme was introduced in the UK and will eventually be rolled out to include all healthy 2–17-year-olds. It is therefore important that school nurses are well informed on the programme and prepared for its delivery. This article is the first of a series on the childhood influenza immunisation programme, it provides an overview of the aims of the programme, its delivery, the uptake results and outcomes of some of the school-aged pilots and useful resources.
Stoma appliances and accessories: getting it right for the patient
Authors: Burch Jennie
Published: April 2015

This article will examine some of the appliances and accessories that can be used to care for a stoma. There are three types of stoma that can be surgically formed and each will be discussed. Furthermore, there will be brief explanations of why stomas might be formed and what the output from each stoma type will be. Complications are associated with stomas, such as sore skin, which is commonly seen within the first few months after the stoma is formed. This important topic is examined and some of the accessories that can be used to treat these issues will be explored. To aid the reader to undertake their own research on the topic, the websites from some of the stoma manufacturers are included. These websites contain more details about appliances, accessories and information for people with a stoma that can be of benefit to nurses too.
Understanding how human factors can cause errors in the operating theatre
Authors: White Nick , Lowes Rebecca Helen Grace , Hormis Anil
Published: April 2015

Human error can be defined as the ‘failure of a planned action’ ( Reason, 2005: 57 ). The study of human and team error in the operating theatre is slowly gathering momentum as we acquire further evidence that many patient iatrogenic injuries and adverse events have human fallibility at their root ( Department of Health, 2009 ). Effective teamwork and communication in safety-critical environments such as operating theatres involve the cooperation of multiple practitioners with varying levels of expertise and seniority ( Sasou and Reason, 1999 ). Despite innovative ideas such as the World Health Organization's (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist, evidence suggests that shortfalls in communication, shared cognition and the presence of authority gradients—described as the failure of efficient and effective communication as a result of a perceived hierarchy within the team ( Cosby and Croskerry, 2004 )—continue to affect patient safety in the operating theatre. This paper explores some of the potential barriers to free flow of communication, as well as investigating how operating department practitioners' (ODPs) mastery of safety sciences including human factors could potentially increase safety and reduce avoidable harm.
Student choice in operating department practice
Authors: Wordsworth Stephen
Published: April 2015

Operating department practitioner (ODP) education and training in the UK is located at the intersection of the field of health, as well as that of higher education (HE). In the past, both have been subject to growth to meet workforce delivery targets and, secondly, to address widening participation (WP) and access to HE ( Department of Health, 2000a ; 2000b ). Currently, however, the focus of discussion has shifted from expansion towards the discourse of student choice ( Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), 2011 ). This paper describes the findings from a wider doctoral study, which adopted a mixed methodology to address some of the contested policy features of participation, and to construct from a health-education perspective a ‘sociology of student choice’ in the allied health professions (AHP). This has the potential to highlight the personal qualities of choice-making, which, post-Francis report, could inform the debate around valuesbased recruitment. This paper, however, specifically addresses the need to identify the characteristics of those choosing to join the ODP profession, as well as ‘surface’—in other words draw attention to—their experiences and barriers to study. Finally, this paper is intended to stimulate a greater understanding of the factors that motivate students to choose the ODP role, in order to inform the recruitment process and ultimately better support students throughout their learning journey to become clinically more effective and caring practitioners.
The evolution of the adult head in Diptera
Authors: Schneeberg Katharina
Published: April 2015

Diptera is one of the species richest orders of holometabolous insects. They are highly diverse in their ecology. The head is an essential feature of adult insects; bearing a number of important sensory organs as well as containing the brain. I investigate 36 taxa and the taxon sampling includes at least one specimen from almost all families of lower Diptera; but also some brachyceran and outgroup taxa. The head of adult Diptera is characterized by many reductions. Mandibles and their associated musculature are present in the groundplan of the order; but missing in most groups. The presence of mandibles is directly correlated with the feeding habit. They are present in blood-sucking species; like members of Culicidae; Ceratopogonidae or Tabanidae. In most dipteran groups the tentorium is a straight hollow tube; connecting anterior and posterior tentorial pits. In some specimens the tentorium is completely reduced (Nymphomyiidae or Tipulidae). However; in the dipteran groundplan anterior; posterior and dorsal arms are well developed (present in Simuliidae and Tabanidae); but a typical corpotentorium is missing in all groups. The tendency to shift the origin of the antennal muscles from the tentorium to the head capsule is correlated with the far reduction of the tentorium; but without a recognizable phylogenetic pattern. The potentially basal families of Diptera; Deuterophlebiidae and Nymphomyiidae; are extremely specialized in their morphology and life cycle. Thereby the interpretation of the features appears difficult.
Teaching data analysis in R through the lens of reproducibility
Authors: Cetinkaya-Rundel Mine , Bray Andrew
Published: April 2015

The issue of reproducibility often comes up in the context of published research and the need to accompany such research with the complete data and analyses, including software/code. As statistics educators who teach data analysis, we should be instilling best practices in students before they set out to do research. We advocate for teaching data analysis and programming in R using knitr and markdown, even to students who have no previous programming experience. In this talk we will discuss benefits of this approach, not only with respect to creating opportunities for discussing the importance of reproducible research, but also for learning syntax, avoiding common novice pitfalls, and organizing and unifying output and write-ups. We will present examples from data analysis labs using this approach and share student experiences and feedback.
Mechanisms of development of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in acromegalic patients depending on treatment
Authors: Dreval A V , Trigolosova I V , Vinogradova A V
Published: April 2015

110 acromegalic patients were examined: 62 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly (de novo), 25 patients were receiving somatostatin analogues treatment (SSA) and 23 patients underwent transsphenoidal sugery (TSS). The prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances (CMDs) in groups de novo, the SSA and the TSS was 53.3, 88.0 and 43.4%, respectively. Levels of fasting plasma insulin (FPI), index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) did not differ in groups SSA and TSS and were more than 1.5 times lower than in the de novo group (p<0.05). Аrea under insulin curve in the first 30 minutes (AUC ins.30) of oral glucose tolerance test in the SSA group was 5.3 times lower than in the TSS, and 6.7 times lower than in the de novo group (p<0.05). Among the 23 de novo patients controlled acromegaly in 6 months was at 46% in group SSA and 50% of patients TSS. In the SSA group there were found increase of fasting plasma glucose levels (FPG), HbA1c (p=0.05), in the TSS group - decrease of FPG (p<0.05). There were the tendency to decrease of HOMA-IR (p=0.06), decrease of FPI and AUCins. (p<0.05) in SSA and TSS groups. Extent of decrease in AUCins.30 on SSA therapy exceeded the extent of decrease in UC ins.30-120 (in 11.0 and 2.3 times, respectively, p<0.05), but after TSS - these changes were comparable (2.4 and 3.2 times, respectively, p<0.05). Despite comparable reduction in insulin resistance on SSA therapy and after TSS decrease of the first phase of insulin secretion on SSA therapy leads to the development of CMD.
The disturbed gonadal differentiation: dysgenesis and ovotesticular disorder of sex formation
Authors: Morozov D A , Raygorodskaya N Yu , Bolotova N V , Pimenova E S , Maslyakova G N , Tsmokalyuk E N
Published: April 2015

The objective of the present study was differential diagnostics between ovotestis and gonadal dysgenesis, the choice of the gender and the surgical strategy for the treatment of abnormal sexual glands. Diagnostics of the disturbances of gonadal differentiation (DGD) requires morphological verification. The ovotesticular gonad is characterized by the presence of a mature ovarian tissue and a dysgenetic testicular component. The authors describe the surgical separation of the ovotestis with preservation of the segments represented by the mature ovarian tissue. The presence of immature ovarian elements in the testicular gonad is one of the signs of its dysgenesis. Such cases need to be treated by the surgical removal of dysgenetic gonads.
Public Goods Provision and Well-Being: Empirical Evidence Consistent with the Warm Glow Theory
Authors: Videras Julio R , Owen Ann L
Published: April 2015

Using a broad multi-country sample, we find that individuals who contribute to the public good of environmental protection report higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness. We show that this result is robust to the use of an instrumental variables technique and provide several pieces of evidence that this positive relationship between contributions and well-being is due to a warm-glow motive. First, well-being does not increase proportionally with contributions, consistent with the warm-glow model that it is the act of giving that generates utility. Second, individuals who think of themselves as socially responsible derive greater satisfaction from their contribution to environmental protection as would be the case if the contribution reinforces a favorable self image. Interestingly, conforming to a social norm may be a motivation for some individuals, but the presence of this motive depends on individual attitudes towards social responsibility. Among those who express the highest level of social responsibility, conforming to the norm makes them less satisfied with life. However, individuals with a moderate level of social responsibility do report higher levels of happiness when their public goods contributions conform to societal norms.
The Evolution of Open Source Communities
Authors: Gutsche Joerg
Published: April 2015

A growing body of literature has succeeded in explaining the economics of existing open source communities. However, the question why such communities come into existence has so far not been answered satisfactorily. This paper addresses this question with an evolutionary model: software developers repeatedly decide whether to use an open source or a proprietary license using boundedly rational decision rules. We analyze the resulting stochastic process and provide conditions under which open source licensing is the only long-run outcome that is stable to perturbations. It turns out that these conditions coincide with important stylized facts about thriving open source communities.
The Role of Immigration in the Retirement Age Reform : A Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Lagos Francisco , Lacomba Juan
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the role played by the low-skilled immigrant labor force in countries aiming to reform their public pensions systems by postponing the pensionable age. With an overlapping-generations model in continuous time and a fully redistributive pension scheme, the arrival of immigrants affects the retirement benefits of the host population in a different manner according to whether they share or not pension benefits. Our results suggest that governments attempting to delay the legal retirement age should take into account the effect of immigration on the optimal retirement age of native individuals.
The effect of trematode parthenites on the individual fecundity of Bithynia troscheli (Prosobranchia: Bithyniidae)
Authors: Serbina Elena A.
Published: April 2015

We studied the long-term infection of Bithynia troscheli (Paasch, 1842) snails with trematodes and estimated the influence of trematode parthenites on the individual fecundity of female snails from the Kargat River (Chany Lake, Russia). The prevalence of B. troscheli females infected by trematode parthenites varied from 7.12% to 17.35% in different years. Eleven redioid species from 5 families and 9 sporocystoid species from 5 families of trematodes were found during this investigation. Snails’ fecundity was analysed in relation to the type of infection (redioid or sporocystoid species). Fecund females of B. troscheli were uninfected or they had pre-patent infections from 5 families of trematodes (Psilostomidae, Notocotylidae, Prosthogonimidae, Lecithodendriidae, and Cyathocotylidae). 89.9% of infected B. troscheli females were infertile. Moreover, 13.57% and 1.29% egg capsules (of infected and uninfected females, respectively) were without embryos (χ2 = 323.24, p<0.001). The results of the two-way analysis of variability confirmed that trematode parthenites influenced significantly the individual fecundity of B. troscheli. The age of B. troscheli females alone did not alter the individual fecundity, however age in combination with infection by tremathode parthenites influenced significantly the number of normal egg capsules. We also found that under unfavorable environmental conditions the proportion of fertile females increased by 23.7% among uninfected and by 219% among infected females.
First data on the parasites of Hoplias aimara (Characiformes): description of two new species of gill monogeneans (Dactylogyridae)
Authors: Moreira Juliana , Scholz Tomáš , Luque José Luis
Published: April 2015

The first data on the parasites of the giant trahira, Hoplias aimara (Characiformes: Erythrinidae), a little known, but popular fish for sport angling, are provided. In H. aimara from the Xingu River in Brazil, two new species of gill monogeneans of the family Dactylogyridae were found and their description is provided herein. Urocleidoides aimarai n. sp. differs from all 18 congeners by the presence of a large accessory piece of the male copulatory organ and based by morphology of anchors. Urocleidoides xinguensis n. sp. is distinguished by unique combination of copulatory complex and haptoral structures.
PCR identification of five species from the Anopheles maculipennis complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in North-Eastern Romania
Authors: Ivanescu Maria-Larisa , Acatrinei Dumitru , Pavel Ionuţ , Sulesco Tatiana , Miron Liviu
Published: April 2015

The members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex have been incriminated for the transmission of the malaria in Europe, which was endemic until the middle of the century. The global warming and the intensification of the intercontinental travel constitute a risk of the re-emergence of the malaria in Europe, given the presence of the Anopheles vectors. The study has attempted the identification by using the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) of the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex from the North-eastern area of Romania from the city of Iaşi. In total there have been identified by using the PCR amplifying the ITS2 sequence of the ribosomal DNA, 217 specimens belonging to the complex of A. maculipennis among which: 58 A. atroparvus, 18 A. melanoon, 2 A. labranchiae, 52 A. maculipennis and 87 A. messeae. The ITS2 sequences of the ribosomal DNA have been compared to those of the species belonging to the A. maculipennis available in GenBank. The Species A. labranchiae is reported for the first time in Romania, being identified in the larval stage IV. The adaptation of a new species to the climatic conditions present in the North-eastern Romania, confirms the phenomenon of global warming and also the intensification of the travelling. As a result of the analysis of the A. labranchiae sequence, this one corresponds to the extent of 96% to the species from Italy, registered in GenBank, given the fact that a high number of the inhabitants of the municipality of Iaşi are working in this country.
Detection of high percentage of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, in wild populations of Colombian Caribbean triatomines
Authors: Escalante Melisa Eyes , Gomez Doris , Silvera Luz Alba , Sánchez Gittith , Venegas Juan
Published: April 2015

In Colombia it is estimated that about 900,000 persons are infected with T. cruzi. There are 25 triatomine species and 5 of them have been reported infected with T. cruzi in the Colombian Caribbean region. In order to obtain more information about the triatomine populations in this region, 89 wild triatomines were collected from four Colombian Departments. The most frequent specie collected was Rhodnius pallescens (65%), followed by Rhodnius prolixus (20%), Panstrongylus geniculatus (10.1%) and Triatoma dimidiata (1%), found in Bolivar, Córdoba, Atlántico/Sucre, and Bolívar Departments, respectively. The majority of triatomines (95.5%) were captured in the arboreal ecotope and 76.4% were found infected with T. cruzi. Interestingly, some of these triatomine species were captured in Departments in which they had not previously been reported and also new finding of triatomine species infected with T. cruzi. These results are relevant, because they can be consequence of a continued geographical expansion of this parasite, not only in the Colombian Caribbean region, but even in all Latin America. The information presented here will contribute in the surveillance and control strategies of the vectors infected with T. cruzi that circulate in four department of Colombian Caribbean region in order to interrupt the transmission to human dwelling.
Chitin, a key factor in immune regulation: lesson from infection with fungi and chitin bearing parasites
Authors: Brodaczewska Klaudia , Donskow-Łysoniewska Katarzyna , Doligalska Maria
Published: April 2015

The probability of infection with fungi, as well as parasitic nematodes or arthropods may increase in overcrowded population of animals and human. The widespread overuse of drugs and immunosuppressants for veterinary or medical treatment create an opportunity for many pathogenic species. The aim of the review is to present the common molecular characteristics of such pathogens as fungi and nematodes and other chitin bearing animals, which may both activate and downregulate the immune response of the host. Although these pathogens are evolutionary distinct and distant, they may provoke similar immune mechanisms. The role of chitin in these phenomena will be reviewed, highlighting the immune reactions that may be induced in mammals by this natural polymer.
Analytical performance specifications for EQA schemes – need for harmonisation
Authors: Dallas Jones Graham Ross
Published: April 2015

External Quality Assurance (EQA) is a vital tool in laboratory medicine to assess individual laboratory analytical performance and also the differences between the results from different laboratories. This information is also useful for professional bodies and manufacturers as part of post-market surveillance. The process involves the measurement of one or more samples by many laboratories and then assessment of the results. Individual results are generally assessed by how far they lie from a target, which may be established using reference methods or a median of some or all of the submitted results. The distance of a result from the target is compared with analytical performance specifications in order to assess the analytical quality. One of the uses of the Stockholm hierarchy of performance goals is to set the performance specifications for analysis of EQA results. Fifteen years after the Stockholm consensus meeting, EQA analytical performance specifications appear to still vary widely between EQA providers. This can be due to a range of factors, including the rationale for setting the criteria, the expected response to a failure to meet the specified performance, the clinical meaning behind meeting the specifications, and the possible need for further analytical improvements. There are also differences in the models chosen to set the criteria, usually either state of the art or biological variation, and then differences in how these are applied. While harmonisation of EQA performance specifications may be some time off, all EQA providers should define the nature of their specifications and the basis for their selection and make this information available to customers.
Symbolic Representation of Rural Christianity and the Inventiveness of Faith Traditions / 乡村基督教的象征表现与信仰传统的发明性
Authors: Jianbo Huang
Published: April 2015

There are two dominant perceptions on the relationship between Christianity and rural society and culture in China. One is more concerned about the authenticity of Christianity from the church’s perspective, while the other talks about ‘cultural security’ from the view of the local tradition of China. These seemingly contradictory views are in fact based on the same historical model known as impact response. It is a welldeveloped model in that it could explain the “mission church” (church in China), while it seems less or less likely to help us grasp the nature and reality of the “local church” (China’s Church). Hence, this article deals with the following questions, taking Huanan church (South China Church, or SCC) as a case study. Is it plausible for us to consider this kind of local church and its believers as a sort of Christian faith tradition de facto? In light of the assumption, how do we understand the diversified symbolic representations and even inventions? Furthermore, how do we understand the continuity and discontinuity of tradition, if we consider the faith tradition as a cultural tradition?
Detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose by enzyme product precipitation on sensor surface
Authors: Juřík Tomáš , Skládal Petr
Published: April 2015

Biocatalysed precipitation of an insoluble product accumulated on the enzyme-modified electrode surface was applied as the amplification path for low concentration sensing of hydrogen peroxide and glucose. Sensitive electrochemical and quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensors based on biocatalytic precipitation were developed. A horseradish peroxidase (HRP) monolayer-modified electrode was used to sense H
Improvements to CO2 headspace biodegradability test
Authors: Kaňková Hana , Sýkora Vladimír , Kujalová Hana , Cypris Michal
Published: April 2015

This study proposes changes to the design and evaluation of the CO
Selection and design of ionic liquids as solvents in extractive distillation and extraction processes
Authors: Schuur Boelo
Published: April 2015

Since the late 1990’s there has been a tremendous growth in literature on ionic liquids (ILs) for a broad range of applications, i.e. catalysis, electrolytes for batteries, in solvolysis of biomass, and also in separation technology. ILs can be applied as solvents for absorption (e.g. of CO2), extractive distillation and extraction processes. That ILs are not magic solvents but have their limitations has also become evident during the past years. Especially the high costs associated with ILs and the lack of experience with these materials in the industrial practice are factors limiting industrial adoption of ILs. The often praised versatility of properties that can be achieved through combination of different cations and anions generates a huge amount of options and makes it difficult to decide where to start when selecting/designing a solvent. This paper focuses on solvent selection/design for applications in extractive distillations and liquid-liquid extractions; also, solvent performance in several specific case studies taken from the open literature is discussed. Important recommendations include: a) make a conceptual process design including the recovery step, regeneration of the IL may be a critical parameter; b) if extractions from aqueous streams are studied, the uptake of water by the IL is an important factor because such co-extracted water is evaporated during the regeneration; c) compare the process with conventional processes to check whether it performs better than the state-of-the-art in industry.
Preparation of ceramic γ-Al2O3–TiO2 nanofiltration membranes for desalination
Authors: Khalili Mohsen , Sabbaghi Samad , Zerafat Mohammad Mahdi
Published: April 2015

As one of the most recently developed membrane separation processes, nanofiltration (NF) has found a number of industrial applications. Ceramic NF membranes are also regarded as the appropriate choice in many applications, due to their higher chemical and physical stability. In this study, the rejection of the chloride ion is investigated using bi-layered γ-Al
Preparation of quaternary pyridinium salts as possible proton conductors
Authors: Urban Jiří , Havlíček David , Krajbich Josef
Published: April 2015

On basis of earlier experimental experience, the transfer of protons in salts of the organic cation-inorganic anion type occurs primarily through directional arrangement of the anion-anion type short hydrogen bonds. The submitted work presents the preparation of quaternary pyridinium salts of inorganic hydrogen anions in the absence of solvent molecules in their crystal structure. These substances can form only the above-described anion-anion type hydrogen bonds; in addition, the absence of solvate anions increases the stability of the prepared compounds. A total of six substituted pyridinium salts were prepared, four of which have not been described yet: 1,2,4,6-tetraphenylpyridinium perchlorate, 1-benzyl-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium perchlorate, 1,4-dimethylpyridinium hydrogen sulphate, 1,4-dimethylpyridinium dihydrogen phosphate, 1,4-dimethylpyridinium hydrogen sulphate, and 1,2-dimethyl-5-ethylpyridinium dihydrogen phosphate. Three of these substances were characterised by X-ray structural analysis: 1,2,4,6- tetraphenylpyridinium perchlorate crystallises in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca; 1- benzyl-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium perchlorate crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group P2
Enzymatic sensor of putrescine with optical oxygen transducer – mathematical model of responses of sensitive layer
Authors: Maixnerová Lucie , Horvitz Alexandar , Kuncová Gabriela , Přibyl Michal , Šebela Marek , Koštejn Martin
Published: April 2015

A biosensor for putrescine containing a sensing layer with an optical oxygen probe based on ruthenium complex and the enzyme diamine oxidase from pea is described. The diamine oxidase was pre-immobilised on broken micro-beads modified with a ferrofluid. The pre-immobilised enzyme and ruthenium complex were both incorporated into the UV-cured inorganic-organic hybrid polymer ORMOCER
Classification of wine distillates using multivariate statistical methods based on their direct GC-MS analysis
Authors: Špánik Ivan , Čirka Luboš , Májek Pavel
Published: April 2015

This work describes a novel methodology for the recognition of brandies based on direct injection of a raw sample followed by GC-MS analysis. Direct injection was chosen for its simplicity and the fact that the composition of the samples analysed remains unchanged compared to original brandy. The repeatability of the analytical procedure was evaluated by a comparison of the peak areas for randomly selected compounds obtained from 10 parallel measurements. A novel chemometric procedure was investigated in order to separate the samples studied on the basis of their geographical origin, processing technology or maturation time. In this procedure, a principal component analysis was applied to full chromatograms to select the time interval that shows the significant differences between the samples studied. It was shown that the chromatogram recorded at 36-39 min bore the maximal differences, hence it could be used to classify the brandy samples. The chromatographic peaks found within this time interval were identified and their peak areas determined. These compounds could be used as specific markers for determining geographical origin or processing technology.
Spectroscopy studies of sandwich-type complex of silver(I) co-ordinated to nuclear fast red and adenine and its analytical applications
Authors: Cui Yi , Gong Yi-Jun , Su Li , Wu Cheng-Ke , Pang Sheng-Bin , Feng Su-Ling
Published: April 2015

A novel fluorometric method for the determination of adenine was proposed, based on the fluorescence quenching of a nuclear fast red-silver complex as a small molecule optical probe in the presence of adenine. The characteristic spectra of absorption, resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and the fluorescence of the system were analysed. Adenine, Ag
A simple pyridine-based colorimetric chemosensor for highly sensitive and selective mercury(II) detection with the naked eye
Authors: Pan Jian-Ting , Zhu Fei , Kong Lin , Yang Long-Mei , Tao Xu-Tang , Tian Yu-Peng , Lu Hong-Bo , Yang Jia-Xiang
Published: April 2015

Two easily-prepared pyridine-based derivatives of (Z)-2-(4-amino-phenyl)-3-(pyridine-4-yl)acrylonitrile (I) and (Z)-2-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile (II ) were designed, synthesised and characterised. Due to the formation of a complex with Hg
Structural and thermal characterization of copper(II) complexes with phenyl-2-pyridylketoxime and deposition of thin films by spin coating
Authors: Szczęsny Robert , Muzioƚ Tadeusz M. , Gregory Duncan H. , Szƚyk Edward
Published: April 2015

Four copper(II) oxime complexes, [Cu(HPPK)(PPK)X] (HPPK = phenyl-2-pyridylketoxime and X = CI
Heat transfer in a jacketed agitated vessel equipped with multistage impellers
Authors: Věříšová Marcela , Dostál Martin , Jirout Tomáš , Petera Karel
Published: April 2015

In this work, heat transfer via the cylindrical part of the jacket in an agitated vessel has been investigated. Heat transfer coefficients were determined using the transient method based on measuring the temperature dependency of the liquid batch on time. A multistage impeller made of two impellers was used in a cylindrical vessel with dished bottom. The lower impeller was a curved blade turbine with the diameter of d = 100 mm and the upper impeller was either a pitched three-blade or pitched four-blade impeller with the diameter of d
Seasonal variation in alkaloid composition and antiproliferative activity of Stylophorum lasiocarpum (Oliv.) Fedde
Authors: Šebrlová Kristýna , Peš Ondřej , Slaninová Iva , Vymazal Ondřej , Kantorová Jana , Táborská Eva
Published: April 2015

Stylophorum lasiocarpum (Oliv.) Fedde (Papaveraceae) belongs to traditional Chinese medicine herbs but there was minimal information on the content of alkaloids in this plant. Extracts from the aerial part and roots were examined by liquid chromatography with UV and mass spectrometric detection, with nineteen alkaloids identified. Changes in alkaloid content over the entire vegetation period of a one- and two-year old plant were studied. The protoberberine alkaloids, coptisine and stylopine, were found to be the main substances in extracts of the aerial part irrespective of the plant’s age and time of harvest. Variable amounts of protopine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, chelirubine, macarpine, chelilutine and berberine were also recorded in the aerial part. The roots contained significantly larger quantities of all alkaloids than the aerial part with the levels of most alkaloids varying from May to October, peaking in the middle of the vegetation period. Coptisine was the dominant alkaloid in all samples. The antiproliferative activities of the root extract and of seven individual alkaloids were tested on A375 human malignant melanoma cells. The significant dose-dependent toxicity of the root extract was attributed largely to the quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, macarpine and sanguinarine.
Assessment of Urtica as a low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue removal: kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Peydayesh Mohammad , Isanejad Mojgan , Mohammadi Toraj , Reza Seyed Jafari Seyed Mohammad
Published: April 2015

Methylene blue (MB) removal using eco-friendly, cost-effective, and freely available Urtica was investigated. The morphology of the adsorbent surface and the nature of the possible Urtica and MB interactions were examined using SEM analysis and the FTIR technique, respectively. Various factors affecting MB adsorption such as adsorption time, initial MB concentration, temperature, and solution pH were investigated. The adsorption process was analysed using different kinetic models and isotherms. The results showed that the MB adsorption kinetic follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the isotherm data fit the Langmuir isotherm well. Thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°, were also evaluated, and the results indicated that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MB adsorption capacity of Urtica was found to be as high as 101.01 mg g