bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilization of Periphytic Natural Food as Partial Replacement of Commercial Food in Organic Tilapia Culture - An Overview
Authors: Milstein Ana , Naor Alon , Barki Assaf , Harpaz Sheenan
Published: November 2013

This article summarizes the results obtained during five years of research at the Dor Fish and Aquaculture Research Station on partial replacement of commercial food by periphytic natural food in the culture of organic tilapia (hybrid Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) x Oreochromis niloticus (L.)). Tilapia culture experiments were conducted in earth ponds with and without substrates, utilizing different substrates. Tilapias of sizes ranging from nursery to market-size fish were tested. Fish were stocked at densities common in organic fish culture, i.e. 5 tilapia/m2 at the nursery stage, 1.2-1.4 tilapia/m2 at the grow-out stage. Substrate experiments were carried out in 1 m3 cages protected from fish grazing to test growth of periphyton on materials with different characteristics. The findings show that the inclusion of substrates in the water body at an amount equivalent to 40-50% of the pond water surface, allows the reduction of commercial food input by 30-40% without significantly hampering fish growth rate. It is recommended to use rough, rigid, white substrates, on which periphyton growth of 2 g dry matter/m2/day has been measured. A figure and a table are provided as a tool to estimate periphyton contribution to the fish food ration, enabling the adjustment of the remaining daily food portion to be supplied as fish biomass increases during the culture period. Applying this technology will save food and money in the culture of organic tilapia, and it can also be appropriate in the conventional pond culture of tilapia as a method to reduce feed costs and increase sustainability.
Effects of the Invasive Ctenophore Species, Mnemiopsis Leidyi, on the Caspian Sea
Authors: Khoshnood Zahra , Khoshnood Reza , Ghobeitihasab Mehdi
Published: November 2013

Human interventions on the Earth’s natural systems are evident even in remote regions of the Antarctic and rain forests deep within the Amazon. In addition to human-induced climate change and habitat destruction, an emerging anthropogenic threat to biodiversity is the drastic species re-distribution (the movement of species from one place to another due to human intervention) at a global scale.

This creates fertile conditions for biological invasions which in turn cause substantial economic and ecological losses. These human-mediated invasions, often referred to as “biological pollution”, are a worldwide problem that is increasing in frequency and magnitude, causing significant damage to the environment, economy and human health. Bioinvasions have strong impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and stability. They are ranked as the second most important threat to biodiversity (after habitat destruction) by the World Conservation Union.

The Ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi, is one of the invasive species that naturally lives in the Atlantic coastal waters of North America and South America, but discovered in Azov, Black, Caspian, North, Baltic and Mediterranean (north-eastern part) seas in early 1980s.

It seems that the main factor of its redistribution was the ballast waters of ships. As an alien species, Mnemiopsis leidyi caused many alterations in the Caspian Sea ecosystems. The fact that it feeds on the eggs of native fish Clopeonella spp., has resulted in a significant decline of its population; Clopeonella spp. were the main source of industrial fishing in the Caspian Sea and also the main source of food for precious fish species, the sturgeons, and therefore, their decline has caused a huge economical loss for the area's inhabitants and a significant decline of sturgeon populations.

This species has caused massive ecosystem changes and substantial economic losses in the late 1980s-1990s, and it has been recognized as a problem of main ecological concern for the sustainable development of the region, together with the high level of anthropogenic pressures on the Caspian Sea ecosystems. Some special characteristics of this species, such as adaptation to a wide range of salinity and temperature, high capability of reproduction, hermaphroditism and dissogeny, have led to huge increases of its mass, especially in southern regions of the Caspian Sea, the coastal waters of Iran. In addition, it has become clear that this species does not have any natural predators in the Caspian Sea, and also that it can feed on any organisms smaller than itself in size. Owing to these facts, it is a huge ecological threat for the Caspian Sea ecosystems. The aim of the present paper is to review the biological and ecological impacts of this invasive species on the Caspian Sea ecosystems.
Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (Mpa) Bali - Indonesia: Why Need to be Protected?
Authors: Ruchimat Toni , Basuki Riyanto , Welly Marthen
Published: November 2013

Nusa Penida comprises a group of islands in the south-east of Bali. This archipelago contains a high level of marine biodiversity and has significant tourism potential. In addition, Nusa Penida has aquaculture and fishing areas, which continue to be developed. Efforts towards conservation and sustainable use by means of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide an important solution to counteract increasing pressure on natural resources due to economic activities. Zoning system arrangements to protect marine biodiversity, as well as sustainable economic activities, form the highest priority in the management of the Nusa Penida MPA.

The paper provides an overview of the coastal ecosystem of Nusa Penida and the potential for sustainable utilization of natural resources, as well as demonstrates the socioeconomic condition of the Nusa Penida community. Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) in 2009 for the marine ecosystems in the waters of Nusa Penida serves as baseline data to provide inputs for defining the MPA, including a zoning system and a management plan.

The ecological survey revealed 1,419 ha of coral reef with 296 species, 230 ha of mangrove with 13 species, and 108 ha of seagrass beds with 8 species. The assessment of fish biodiversity revealed 296 species of fish, including five that are new to science. Nusa Penida’s waters are home to marine megafauna such as sea turtles, sharks and cetaceans, also unique and charismatic fish such as ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and manta rays (Manta birostris), that occur predictably annually.

Marine tourism, seaweed farming and capture fisheries are the main economic activities for the income of the coastal community. Nusa Penida is visited by more than 200,000 tourists each year. The tourists dive in 20 dive-spots arround the waters. There are 308 ha of seaweed farming that produce more than 50 tons per month. About 850 local fishermen depend for their livelihood on the fishing grounds around the waters of Nusa Penida for their livelihood. In total, some 46,000 residents depend on the marine biodiversity of the archipelago for their livelihood.

Destructive fishing and over-fishing are serious threats to the reef ecosystem within the Nusa Penida MPA, as well as to the sustainable fisheries. The lack of a clear zoning system and its attendant regulation of uses for Nusa Penida’s coastal area and marine resources mean potential conflicts between marine tourism, seaweed farming and the fisheries. The establishment of the MPA with a management plan is imperative to regulate the sustainable use of marine resources.
Determinants of Guideline Use in Primary Care Physical Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior
Authors: Bernhardsson Susanne , Johansson Kajsa , Nilsen Per , Öberg Birgitta , Larsson Maria E.H.
Published: November 2013

Background

Understanding of attitudes, knowledge, and behavior related to evidence-based practice (EBP) and use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in primary care physical therapy is limited.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate self-reported attitudes, knowledge, behavior, prerequisites, and barriers related to EBP and guideline use among physical therapists in primary care and (2) to explore associations of self-reported use of guidelines with these social cognitive factors along with demographic and workplace characteristics.

Design

This was a cross-sectional survey.

Methods

A web-based survey of 419 physical therapists in primary care in western Sweden was performed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with guideline use.

Results

The response rate was 64.7%. Most respondents had positive attitudes toward EBP and guidelines: 90% considered EBP necessary, and 96% considered guidelines important. Approximately two thirds reported confidence in finding and using evidence. One third reported being aware of guidelines. Thirteen percent knew where to find guidelines, and only 9% reported having easy access to guidelines. Fewer than half reported using guidelines frequently. The most important barriers to using guidelines were lack of time, poor availability, and limited access to guidelines. Young age and brief work experience were associated with positive attitudes toward EBP. A postgraduate degree was associated with higher application of EBP. Positive attitudes, awareness of guidelines, considering guidelines to facilitate practice, and knowing how to integrate patient preferences with guideline use were associated with frequent use of guidelines.

Limitations

Data were self-reported, which may have increased the risk of social desirability bias.

Conclusions

Use of guidelines was not as frequent as could be expected in view of the positive attitudes toward EBP and guidelines among physical therapists. Awareness of and perceived access to guidelines were limited. The identified determinants can be addressed when developing guideline implementation strategies.
Microstructural aspects of ceramic hollow microspheres reinforced metal matrix composites
Authors: Orbulov Imre Norbert , Májlinger Kornél
Published: November 2013

Ceramic hollow microsphere reinforced metal matrix syntactic foams were produced by means of pressure infiltration. The reinforcing ceramic hollow microsphere's (SL300) microstructure was investigated. The microspheres contained various oxide ceramics, mainly Al2O3 and SiO2. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction measurements and energy dispersive spectroscopy maps. The results showed that the Al2O3 and SiO2 distribution in the wall of the microspheres is not equal; Al2O3 needles are embedded in the surrounding mullite and SiO2 phase. Line energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements showed that, due to the above mentioned uneven distribution of Al2O3 rich particles, a chemical exchange reaction took place between the aluminium alloy matrix and the microspheres and because of that the wall of the hollow microspheres became damaged.
Nano preparation of Dy3+ substituted ceria via urea-formaldehyde gel combustion route
Authors: Biswas Mridula , Bandyopadhyay Siddhartha
Published: November 2013

Nanocrystalline ceria powders have been synthesised via the gel combustion route, using for the first time urea formaldehyde as fuel for doping of dysprosium oxide. This synthesis route can produce well-crystallised powder within a one step combustion process, eliminating the need for further calcinations. The formation sequences have been described through differential scanning calorimetry-thermo gravimetric analysis study and the crystallinity of the powder was examined using X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction and high resolution patterns. Lattice parameter was found to increase with doping concentration. Very fine grains in the size range of 3–5 nm are found to occur in the form of large and soft agglomerates (50–130 nm). The optical band gap suggests that those powders with low dopant concentration may have useful applications in UV-shielding and in transparent conducting film.
Microstructural and thermodynamic investigations on friction stir welded Mg/Al-joints
Authors: Klag Otmar , Gröbner Joachim , Wagner Guntram , Schmid-Fetzer Rainer , Eifler Dietmar
Published: November 2013

With friction stir welding it is possible to join light metals in the solid state. However joints between dissimilar metals are a special challenge. At the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering of the University of Kaiserslautern the friction stir weldability of magnesium–aluminium-joints was investigated. For the realization of high strength joints between these materials the knowledge of the developing microstructure in the welding zone is of especially high interest. Therefore, light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic investigations were carried out and the results compared with phase diagrams and phase fractions for the bonding zone which were calculated at Institute of Metallurgy of the University of Clausthal.
Development of Sn–Cu–Sb alloys for making lead- and bismuth-free pewter
Authors: Wong Yew Hoong , Ramesh S. , Tan C. Y. , Projjal B.
Published: November 2013

A systematic study on the development of a set of Sn–Cu–Sb alloys and their characteristics, such as phases evolved, mechanical properties, physical properties, and microstructures, that are commonly sought for making pewter is presented. Alloys with various nominal compositions of Sn–Cu (1–3%)–Sb (3–6%) were prepared and they were die cast for complete characterization. The samples were characterized for hardness, malleability, density, microstructure, and phase identification. The study is expected to help in selecting the right composition of the alloys for making pewter with appropriate combination of properties.
On the Pressure Dependency of the Bagley Correction
Authors: Van Puyvelde P. , Vananroye A. , Hanot A.-S. , Dees M. , Mangnus M. , Hermans N.
Published: November 2013

The effect of pressure on the viscosity of polymer melts is an often forgotten parameter due to the inherent difficulty to measure this quantity. Different experimental approaches have already been undertaken in literature in the past. A popular methodology to measure the pressure dependence of the viscosity is to use a capillary rheometer equipped with a counter pressure chamber in which the exit pressure can be controlled. In order to process the data, one of the key elements is the Bagley correction that is required to determine the correct entrance pressure at a specific shear rate. In all analysis approaches presented in literature on data at controlled exit pressure, the Bagley correction was always determined at atmospheric exit pressure, disgarding possible effects of an enhanced exit pressure. In this paper, a new analytical approach is presented that for the first time allows for a direct assessment of the entrance pressures obtained when capillary measurements are performed with controlled counter pressures. It is demonstrated, using polycarbonate, that the entrance pressure correction needed to obtain correct viscosity values under pressure is significantly different than the one needed to correct measurements performed at atmospheric exit pressure.
The use of deep brain stimulation in Tourette's syndrome
Authors: Rotsides Janine , Mammis Antonios
Published: November 2013

Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a childhood neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple involuntary motor and vocal tics. It is commonly associated with other behavioral disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, and self-injurious behaviors. Tourette's syndrome can be effectively managed with psychobehavioral and pharmacological treatments, and many patients experience an improvement in tics in adulthood. However, symptoms may persist and cause severe impairment in a small subset of patients despite available therapies. In recent years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to be a promising treatment option for such patients. Since the advent of its use in 1999, multiple targets have been identified in DBS for TS, including the medial thalamus, globus pallidus internus, globus pallidus externus, anterior limb of the internal capsule/nucleus accumbens, and subthalamic nucleus. While the medial thalamus is the most commonly reported trajectory, the optimal surgical target for TS is still a topic of much debate. This paper provides a review of the available literature regarding the use of DBS for TS.
Durable thrombosis in a rat model of arteriovenous malformation treated with radiosurgery and vascular targeting
Authors: Reddy Rajesh , Hong Duong T. T. , Fairhall Jacob M. , Smee Robert I. , Stoodley Marcus A.
Published: November 2013

Object

Radiosurgical treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has the significant shortcomings of being limited to lesions smaller than 3 cm in diameter and of a latency-to-cure time of up to 3 years. A possible method of overcoming these limitations is stimulation of thrombosis by using vascular targeting. Using an animal model of AVM, the authors examined the durability of the thrombosis induced by the vascular-targeting agents lipopolysaccharide and soluble tissue factor conjugate (LPS/sTF).

Methods

Stereotactic radiosurgery or sham radiation was administered to 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats serving as an animal model of AVM; 24 hours after this intervention, the rats received an intravenous injection of LPS/sTF or normal saline. The animals were killed at 1, 7, 30, or 90 days after treatment. Immediately beforehand, angiography was performed, and model AVM tissue was harvested for histological analysis to assess rates of vessel thrombosis.

Results

Among rats that received radiosurgery and LPS/sTF, induced thrombosis occurred in 58% of small AVM vessels; among those that received radiosurgery and saline, thrombosis occurred in 12% of small AVM vessels (diameter < 200 μm); and among those that received LPS/sTF but no radiosurgery, thrombosis occurred at an intermediate rate of 43%. No systemic toxicity or intravascular thrombosis remote from the target region was detected in any of the animals.

Conclusions

Vascular targeting can increase intravascular thrombosis after radiosurgery, and the vessel occlusion is durable. Further work is needed to refine this approach to AVM treatment, which shows promise as a way to overcome the limitations of radiosurgery.
Novel pressure-sensing skin for detecting impending tissue damage during neuroendoscopy
Authors: Codd Patrick J. , Veaceslav Arabagi , Gosline Andrew H. , Dupont Pierre E.
Published: November 2013

Object

Endoscopy plays an increasingly important role in minimally invasive neurosurgery. Visual feedback from the endoscope tip helps the surgeon prevent unwanted tissue contact. However, critical feedback regarding tissue deformation and trauma from proximal endoscope components is currently unavailable. A system for force feedback along the endoscope length could provide significant clinical benefit by warning of impending damage.

The authors manufactured and tested a novel pressure-sensing polymer skin for use in pressure feedback during intracranial endoscopy.

Methods

A photolithography process on a silicon wafer was used to produce a pattern of 80-μm-tall extrusions to serve as a positive mold for the sensor array. A thin layer of polydimethylsiloxane polymer was molded onto these features. Demolding the polymer from the wafer and sealing with another polymer layer resulted in microchannels. These microchannels were filled with a conductive liquid metal and connected to recording hardware. Spiral channel patterns were designed to create a 3 × 3 array of pressure-sensor pads, which were wrapped around a standard neuroendoscope operating sheath. Pressure readings from the compressed sensor array were translated into a color-coded graphic user interface. Calibration experiments were conducted, and the sensor was evaluated through cortical compression tests on explanted ovine brain.

Results

The sensing endoscope operating sheath was successfully calibrated to detect and display pressures within a range consistent with normal and tissue-threatening compressions.

Conclusions

Force-feedback mechanisms for the neuroendoscopist are critically lacking with contemporary endoscopes. The authors designed a pressure-sensing skin technology for improved pressure feedback during endoscopy as a means for minimizing collateral tissue damage during endoscopy.
Relationship between biomechanical changes at adjacent segments and number of fused bone grafts in multilevel cervical fusions: a finite element investigation
Authors: Hussain Mozammil , Nassr Ahmad , Natarajan Raghu N. , An Howard S. , Andersson Gunnar B. J.
Published: November 2013

Object

Biomechanical studies have shown that anterior cervical fusion construct stiffness and arthrodesis rates vary with different reconstruction techniques; however, the behavior of the adjacent segments in the setting of different procedures is poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the adjacent-segment biomechanics after 3 different anterior cervical decompression and fusion techniques, including 3-level discectomy and fusion, 2-level corpectomy and fusion, and a corpectomy-discectomy hybrid technique. The authors hypothesized that biomechanical changes at the segments immediately superior and inferior to the multilevel fusion would be inversely proportional to the number of fused bone grafts and that these changes would be related to the type of fusion technique.

Methods

A previously validated 3D finite element model of an intact C3–T1 segment was used. Three C4–7 fusion models were built from this intact model by varying the number of bone grafts used to span the decompression: a 1-graft model (2-level corpectomy), a 2-graft model (C-5 corpectomy and C6–7 discectomy), and a 3-graft model (3-level discectomy). The corpectomy and discectomy models were also previously validated and compared well with the literature findings. Range of motion, disc stresses, and posterior facet loads at the segments superior (C3–4) and inferior (C7–T1) to the fusion construct were assessed.

Results

Motion, disc stresses, and posterior facet loads generally increased at both of the adjacent segments in relation to the intact model. Greater biomechanical changes were noted in the superior C3–4 segment than in the inferior C7–T1 segment. Increasing the number of bone grafts from 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3 was associated with a lower magnitude of biomechanical changes at the adjacent segments.

Conclusions

At segments adjacent to the fusion level, biomechanical changes are not limited solely to the discs, but also propagate to the posterior facets. These changes in discs and posterior facets were found to be lower for discectomy than for corpectomy, thereby supporting the current study hypothesis of inverse relationship between the adjacent-segment variations and the number of fused bone grafts. Such changes may go on to influence the likelihood of adjacent-segment degeneration accordingly. Further studies are warranted to identify the causes and true impact of these observed changes.
Vascular injury following microendoscopic lumbar discectomy treated with stent graft placement
Authors: Uei Hiroshi , Tokuhashi Yasuaki , Oshima Masashi , Miyake Yoichi
Published: November 2013

The risk of great vessel injury is low in microendoscopic lumbar discectomy applied in a favorable visual field. However, it is important to be aware of the depth of the pituitary rongeur. In this article, the authors report the case of a 55-year-old woman with lumbar disc herniation who underwent microendoscopic discectomy and subsequently presented with an aneurysm and arteriovenous fistula located at the bifurcation of the right common iliac artery. The patient was treated with endoscopic placement of a stent graft and recovered uneventfully.
Waldsterben in Neumexiko: Wie erklären wir dies unseren Kindern? (Essay)
Authors: Dobbertin Michèle Kaennel
Published: November 2013

Forest decline in New Mexico: what shall we tell the kids? (Essay)

Climate change-related drought and higher temperatures may directly or indirectly cause forests to die or to be replaced by another vegetation type. As suggested, among others, by two international scientific articles published in 2010 and 2012, the magnitude of these phenomena may be greater than expected. No matter how relevant these studies are, their potential negative impact on the general public should not be underestimated, in particular if the media overstate or distort the scientists' conclusions. Looking back at the forest decline debate of the 1990s and based on discussions with an American forest ecologist, this article offers positive approaches to communicate to the general public an environmental issue to be taken seriously.
Eichenrückgang in Schweizer Naturwaldreservaten
Authors: Rohner Brigitte , Bugmann Harald , Brang Peter , Wunder Jan , Bigler Christof
Published: November 2013

Oak decline in Swiss natural forest reserves

Knowledge on the natural potential of oaks (Quercus spp.) in Switzerland is important for both nature conservation and adaptation to climate change. To assess this natural potential, we analysed tree ring and inventory data collected in Swiss natural forest reserves. Influences of monthly climate variables on oak growth were determined by response functions, whereas generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to identify the influence of climate and site variables on oak mortality. Oak growth was most strongly limited by summer precipitation. Oak mortality reached values between 0% and 25% per year for the individual inventory period; it decreased with tree diameter and increased with stand basal area and mean precipitation during the inventory period. Because stand basal area has continuously increased since the first inventory, the oak proportion decreased in most reserves. In increasingly dense stands, oaks were outcompeted by more shade-tolerant species such as beech. For the investigated sites, a gain of relative competitiveness of oaks in the course of ongoing climate change was not evident. Regarding the preservation of oak proportions in managed forests, protection measures should therefore still be combined with targeted interventions for reducing the competitive pressure.
The true Thing is the (w)hole: Freudian-Lacanian Psychoanalysis and Derridean Chronolibidinal Reading – Another Friendly Reply to Martin Hägglund
Authors: Johnston Adrian
Published: November 2013

This article is an installment in an ongoing debate between me and Hägglund. Both here and throughout our exchanges, I argue on behalf of Freud and Lacan against Hägglund's Derrida-inspired critique of psychoanalysis. Prior to the appearance of Hägglund's 2012 book Dying for Time, the back-and-forth between us centered primarily around the issue of just how atheistic Freudian-Lacanian analysis really is in light of the Derridean-Hägglundian ‘radical atheism’ delineated by Hägglund's 2008 book of that title. In this piece, which focuses on the final chapter of Dying for Time, I carry out two interrelated tasks. First, I highlight what I allege to be certain limitations to Hägglund's Derridean ‘chronolibidinalism’ preventing it from doing full justice to the multiple dimensions of psychoanalysis both theoretical and clinical. Second, I offer interpretations of Freud and Lacan sharply contrasting with the readings of these two figures presented by Hägglund in Dying for Time as well as his other texts engaging with analysis. Moreover, in the process, I defend my version of Freudian-Lacanian drive theory as per my 2005 book Time Driven: Metapsychology and the Splitting of the Drive in the face of Hägglund's explicit criticisms of it.
On Chronolibido: A Response to Rabaté and Johnston
Authors: Hägglund Martin
Published: November 2013

This paper is a response to Jean-Michel Rabaté’s and Adrian Johnston's essays on my book Dying for Time. In responding, I further develop my notions of mortality and immortality, pleasure and pain, the flow of libido and the anticipation of loss. I also elaborate the stakes of my critique of Freud and Lacan, underlining why desire does not derive from a lack of timeless fullness. Rather, desire is both animated and agonized by temporal finitude.
Leaving a Trace in the World: Sexuality and Auto-Affection in Of Grammatology
Authors: Senatore Mauro
Published: November 2013

This essay aims to bring to light a specific movement elaborated by Derrida in Of Grammatology, which goes from the experience of dispossession in speech and the economy of signs that replaces speech itself with writing, through the chains of supplements, to the merging of language and auto-erotism into the differentiated totality of auto-affection as the universal rule of experience or as life itself. I will point out that idealization, as the submission of the world to a certain power of repetition in the living and, thus, as the only condition at which the world can affect the living, marks the becoming-spontaneous of the possibility of auto-affection and, at the same time, the very articulation of life, across its history, into a hierarchy of more and more complex symbolical operations. As I aim to demonstrate throughout my reading, the ultimate task of this movement is that a phenomenology cannot account for the structure of auto-affection insofar as, with a gesture parallel to phonocentrism, it would dissolve the irreducible trait of sexuality into the self-presence of self-touching. 1
E-Infrastructure in the Humanities
Authors: Ell Paul S. , Hughes Lorna M.
Published: November 2013

This paper is concerned with the development of digital humanities infrastructure – tools and resources which make using existing e-content easier to discover, utilise and embed in teaching and research. The past development of digital content in the humanities (in the United Kingdom) is considered with its resource-focused approach, as are current barriers facing digital humanities as a discipline. Existing impacts from e-infrastructure are discussed, based largely on the authors’ own discrete or collaborative projects. This paper argues that we need to consider further how digital resources are actually used, and the ways in which future digital resources might enable new types of research questions to be asked. It considers the potential for such enabling resources to advance digital humanities significantly in the near future.
The Role of CLARIN in Digital Transformations in the Humanities
Authors: Wynne Martin
Published: November 2013

CLARIN is a recently-established research infrastructure which aims to build and sustain services based on language resources and tools. CLARIN aims to support and foster the next generation of research in the humanities, which will make use of advanced digital technologies. A distributed infrastructure is necessary in order to overcome the problems of the current fragmented environment, to create an ecosystem in which data and tools can be connected, and in which innovation will be encouraged. Case studies of early CLARIN demonstrators give a flavour of the possibilities of digital transformations in a number of humanities disciplines, and there is huge potential for important future new directions in literary and linguistic computing. For more widespread, thoroughgoing and effective transformations to take place, builders of infrastructure and researchers will need to negotiate and avoid potential pitfalls, and agree to achieve a certain measure of consensus in terms of priorities, categories and concepts. In the context of current debates about the nature of the humanities and their role in society, it will be necessary for digital humanists to be careful to preserve the unique character and importance of research in the humanities, while moving towards research infrastructures which will facilitate digital scholarship.
The Missing Voice: Archivists and Infrastructures for Humanities Research
Authors: Speck Reto , Links Petra
Published: November 2013

This article offers a critique of the transfer of a technological-scientific paradigm of research infrastructure to the field of the humanities. This critique is informed by our experience of formulating user requirements for the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) project, and especially by a series of interviews we undertook with user-facing archivists working at EHRI partner institutions. We argue that the archival voices we recovered during these interviews articulate a range of concerns that clash with some of the major assumptions which frame current discussions about research infrastructure. In particular, we demonstrate that archival research is currently heavily mediated by archivists. And yet, inter-mediation is a theme that is insufficiently explored in recent theorising about research infrastructure. Contextualising our findings within some recent trends in archival science, we show that an infrastructure such as the EHRI must be build around the complex relationship between scholar, archivist and archive. We conclude by indicating how building infrastructures for humanities research may enable us to fruitfully re-conceptualise and re-energise this relationship by transposing it from the physical world to digital environments.
Crowd-sourcing as a Component of Humanities Research Infrastructures
Authors: Dunn Stuart , Hedges Mark
Published: November 2013

Crowd-sourcing, the process of leveraging public participation in or contribution to a project or activity, is relatively new to academic research, but is becoming increasingly important as the Web transforms collaboration and communication and blurs the boundaries between the academic and non-academic worlds. At the same time, digital research methods are entering the mainstream of humanities research, and there are a number of initiatives addressing the conceptualisation and construction of research infrastructures for the humanities. This paper examines the place of crowd-sourcing activities within such initiatives, presenting a framework for describing and analysing academic humanities crowd-sourcing, and using this framework of ‘primitives’ as a basis for exploring potential relationships between crowd-sourcing and humanities research infrastructures.
Creating Deep Maps and Spatial Narratives through Design
Authors: Ridge Mia , Lafreniere Don , Nesbit Scott
Published: November 2013

An interdisciplinary team of researchers were challenged to create a model of a deep map during a three-day charette at the NEH Institute on Spatial Narratives and Deep Maps. Through a reflexive process of ingesting data, probing for fruitful research questions, and considering how a deep map might be used by different audiences, we created a wireframe model of a deep map and explored how it related to spatial narratives. We explored the tension between interfaces for exploratory and structured views of data and sources, and devised a model for the intersections between spatial narratives and deep maps. The process of creating wireframes and prototype screens—and more importantly, the discussions and debates they initiated—helped us understand the complex requirements for deep maps and showed how a deep map can support a humanistic interpretation of the role of space in historical processes.
Envisioning Deep Maps: Exploring the Spatial Navigation Metaphor in Deep Mapping
Authors: Oxx Katie , Brimicombe Allan , Rush Johnathan
Published: November 2013

The spatial turn within the humanities and need for data richness has led to the re-conceptualisation and exploration of maps as ‘deep maps.’ Building narratives of place is becoming increasingly contingent on data landscapes as opposed to the physical landscapes within which they are situated. To make the assumption that GIS can form the basis for deep maps is to privilege the spatial dimension (and spatial data) over all others. We have sought in our experimentation to take a more open, balanced approach as to how a deep map might be organised as a way of learning/reflecting on what elements a framework should contain. Our subject matter here necessitated attention to the challenges and potentialities of deep mapping ‘things deemed religious.’ We found spatial navigation to be useful for visualizing physical and metaphysical linkages, integrating the geographical portions of our spatial narrative as well as organizing thoughts off the map.
New Parallel Sparse Direct Solvers for Multicore Architectures
Authors: Hogg Jonathan , Scott Jennifer
Published: November 2013

At the heart of many computations in science and engineering lies the need to efficiently and accurately solve large sparse linear systems of equations. Direct methods are frequently the method of choice because of their robustness, accuracy and potential for use as black-box solvers. In the last few years, there have been many new developments, and a number of new modern parallel general-purpose sparse solvers have been written for inclusion within the HSL mathematical software library. In this paper, we introduce and briefly review these solvers for symmetric sparse systems. We describe the algorithms used, highlight key features (including bit-compatibility and out-of-core working) and then, using problems arising from a range of practical applications, we illustrate and compare their performances. We demonstrate that modern direct solvers are able to accurately solve systems of order 106 in less than 3 minutes on a 16-core machine.
Immune-Checkpoint Blockade and Active Immunotherapy for Glioma
Authors: Ahn Brian , Pollack Ian , Okada Hideho
Published: November 2013

Cancer immunotherapy has made tremendous progress, including promising results in patients with malignant gliomas. Nonetheless, the immunological microenvironment of the brain and tumors arising therein is still believed to be suboptimal for sufficient antitumor immune responses for a variety of reasons, including the operation of “immune-checkpoint” mechanisms. While these mechanisms prevent autoimmunity in physiological conditions, malignant tumors, including brain tumors, actively employ these mechanisms to evade from immunological attacks. Development of agents designed to unblock these checkpoint steps is currently one of the most active areas of cancer research. In this review, we summarize recent progresses in the field of brain tumor immunology with particular foci in the area of immune-checkpoint mechanisms and development of active immunotherapy strategies. In the last decade, a number of specific monoclonal antibodies designed to block immune-checkpoint mechanisms have been developed and show efficacy in other cancers, such as melanoma. On the other hand, active immunotherapy approaches, such as vaccines, have shown encouraging outcomes. We believe that development of effective immunotherapy approaches should ultimately integrate those checkpoint-blockade agents to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic approaches. With these agents available, it is going to be quite an exciting time in the field. The eventual success of immunotherapies for brain tumors will be dependent upon not only an in-depth understanding of immunology behind the brain and brain tumors, but also collaboration and teamwork for the development of novel trials that address multiple layers of immunological challenges in gliomas.
Concentration Levels of Imidacloprid and Dinotefuran in Five Tissue Types of Black Walnut, Juglans nigra
Authors: Nix Katheryne , Lambdin Paris , Grant Jerome , Coots Carla , Merten Paul
Published: November 2013

Black walnut, a valuable economic and environmentally important species, is threatened by thousand cankers disease. Systemic imidacloprid and dinotefuran applications were made to mature black walnut trees to evaluate their translocation and concentration levels in various tissue types including leaf, twig, trunk core, nutmeat, and walnut husk. The metabolism of imidacloprid in plants produces a metabolite, olefin-imidacloprid, which has been documented to have insecticidal properties in other systems. Trunk CoreTect (imidacloprid) soil pellets and a trunk spray of dinotefuran were applied to mature black walnuts in spring 2011. Imidacloprid concentrations were detected in both the lower and upper strata in all tissue types tested and progressively increased through month 12 post-treatment in twig and leaf tissue. Olefin-imidacloprid was detected in the nutmeat and walnut husk. Dinotefuran was only detected in the first sampling period and was found in low concentration levels in leaf and twig tissue types, and was not detected in the trunk, nutmeat or the walnut husk.
Methanobactin-Mediated One-Step Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Xin Jia-ying , Cheng Dan-dan , Zhang Lan-xuan , Lin Kai , Fan Hong-chen , Wang Yan , Xia Chun-gu
Published: November 2013

Preparation of gold nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution has enormous importance in nanotechnology. Methanobactin (Mb) is a copper-binding small peptide that appears to function as an agent for copper sequestration and uptake in methanotrophs. Mb can also bind and catalytically reduce Au (III) to Au (0). In this study, we demonstrate a facile Mb-mediated one-step synthetic route to prepare monodispersed gold nanoparticles. Continuous reduction of Au (III) by Mb can be achieved by using hydroquinone as the reducing agent. The gold nanoparticles have been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy. The formation and the surface plasmon resonance properties of the gold nanoparticles are highly dependent on the ratio of Au (III) to Mb in solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorescence spectra and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra suggest that Mb molecules catalytically reduce Au (III) to Au (0) with the concomitant production of gold nanoparticles, and then, Mb statically adsorbed onto the surface of gold nanoparticles to form an Mb-gold nanoparticles assembly. This avoids secondary nucleation. The formed gold nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be monodispersed and uniform by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Analysis of these particles shows an average size of 14.9 nm with a standard deviation of 1.1 nm. The gold nanoparticles are extremely stable and can resist aggregation, even after several months.
Antiproliferative Activity of Cyanophora paradoxa Pigments in Melanoma, Breast and Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Baudelet Paul-Hubert , Gagez Anne-Laure , Bérard Jean-Baptiste , Juin Camille , Bridiau Nicolas , Kaas Raymond , Thiéry Valérie , Cadoret Jean-Paul , Picot Laurent
Published: November 2013

The glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa (Cp) was chemically investigated to identify pigments efficiently inhibiting malignant melanoma, mammary carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells growth. Cp water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited the growth of the three cancer cell lines in vitro, at 100 µg·mL−1. Flash chromatography of the Cp ethanol extract, devoid of c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, enabled the collection of eight fractions, four of which strongly inhibited cancer cells growth at 100 µg·mL−1. Particularly, two fractions inhibited more than 90% of the melanoma cells growth, one inducing apoptosis in the three cancer cells lines. The detailed analysis of Cp pigment composition resulted in the discrimination of 17 molecules, ten of which were unequivocally identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. Pheophorbide a, β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were the three main pigments or derivatives responsible for the strong cytotoxicity of Cp fractions in cancer cells. These data point to Cyanophora paradoxa as a new microalgal source to purify potent anticancer pigments, and demonstrate for the first time the strong antiproliferative activity of zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin in melanoma cells.
The Effect of Increasing Sn Content on High-Temperature Mechanical Deformation of an Mg-3%Cu-1%Ca Alloy
Authors: Antipas Georgios
Published: November 2013

Chill casting of magnesium alloy samples with secondary alloying elements of Cu, Ca and Sn at % w.t. concentrations in the range 1–5, 0.1–5 and 0.1–3 respectively, gave rise to appreciably enhanced resistance to high-temperature creep, while maintaining good heat conductivity. The latter was considered to be driven by Cu and Mg-Cu intermetallics while it was clear that Sn mediated the high-temperature performance, mainly via networks of Mg2Sn and MgCaSn precipitates along the Mg matrix grain boundaries. It was postulated that Sn formed intermetallics by preferential substitution of Ca atoms and, thus, did not degrade the heat conductivity by retaining Cu. The % w.t. stoichiometry with the optimum combination of heat conductivity and resistance to high-temperature creep was found to be Mg-3Cu-1Ca-0.1Sn.
Synthesis and Thermotropic Phase Behavior of Four Glycoglycerolipids
Authors: Hogendorf Wouter , Jagalski Vivien , Pomorski Thomas , Bols Mikael , Cárdenas Marité , Pedersen Christian
Published: November 2013

Four glycoglycerolipids with different head groups have been synthesized and their physicochemical properties studied. The lengths of the head groups from a mono-saccharide to a trisaccharide, in addition to the anomeric stereochemistry for the smaller glycoglycerolipids, have been modified. The synthesis has been optimized to avoid glycerol epimerization and to allow up-scaling. The physicochemical properties of the glycoglycerolipids were studied and a strong de-mixing of the gel-phase, depending on the head-group, was observed.
EOG Artifact Correction from EEG Recording Using Stationary Subspace Analysis and Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Zeng Hong , Song Aiguo , Yan Ruqiang , Qin Hongyun
Published: November 2013

Ocular contamination of EEG data is an important and very common problem in the diagnosis of neurobiological events. An effective approach is proposed in this paper to remove ocular artifacts from the raw EEG recording. First, it conducts the blind source separation on the raw EEG recording by the stationary subspace analysis, which can concentrate artifacts in fewer components than the representative blind source separation methods. Next, to recover the neural information that has leaked into the artifactual components, the adaptive signal decomposition technique EMD is applied to denoise the components. Finally, the artifact-only components are projected back to be subtracted from EEG signals to get the clean EEG data. The experimental results on both the artificially contaminated EEG data and publicly available real EEG data have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method, in particular for the cases where limited number of electrodes are used for the recording, as well as when the artifact contaminated signal is highly non-stationary and the underlying sources cannot be assumed to be independent or uncorrelated.
Efficient Architecture for Spike Sorting in Reconfigurable Hardware
Authors: Hwang Wen-Jyi , Lee Wei-Hao , Lin Shiow-Jyu , Lai Sheng-Ying
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a novel hardware architecture for fast spike sorting. The architecture is able to perform both the feature extraction and clustering in hardware. The generalized Hebbian algorithm (GHA) and fuzzy C-means (FCM) algorithm are used for feature extraction and clustering, respectively. The employment of GHA allows efficient computation of principal components for subsequent clustering operations. The FCM is able to achieve near optimal clustering for spike sorting. Its performance is insensitive to the selection of initial cluster centers. The hardware implementations of GHA and FCM feature low area costs and high throughput. In the GHA architecture, the computation of different weight vectors share the same circuit for lowering the area costs. Moreover, in the FCM hardware implementation, the usual iterative operations for updating the membership matrix and cluster centroid are merged into one single updating process to evade the large storage requirement. To show the effectiveness of the circuit, the proposed architecture is physically implemented by field programmable gate array (FPGA). It is embedded in a System-on-Chip (SOC) platform for performance measurement. Experimental results show that the proposed architecture is an efficient spike sorting design for attaining high classification correct rate and high speed computation.