bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GIS technology in regional recognition of the distribution pattern of multifloral honey: The chemical traits in Serbia
Authors: Radovic D.I. , Lazarevic Kristina , Trifkovic Jelena , Andric F.Lj. , Tesic Z.Lj. , Andjelkovic I.B. , Nedic N.M. , Stanimirovic Z. , Stevanovic Jevrosima , Curcic B.P.M. , Milojkovic-Opsenica Dusanka
Published: October 2014

GIS is a computer-based system to input, store, manipulate, analyze and
output spatially referenced data. There is a huge range application of GIS
that generally sets out to fulfill: mapping, measurement, monitoring,
modeling and management. In this study, GIS technology was used for the
regional recognition of origin and distribution patterns of multifloral honey
chemical traits in Serbia. This included organizing and analyzing the spatial
and attributive data of 164 honey samples collected from different regions of
Serbia during the harvesting season of 2009. Multifloral honey was
characterized in regards to mineral composition, sugar content and basic
physicochemical properties. The kriging method of Geostatistical Analyst was
used for interpolation to predict values of a sampled variable over the whole
territory of Serbia.
A new cave Pseudoscorpion from the region of Mangalia (Romania): Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) borissketi n. sp. (Chthoniidae, Pseudoscorpiones)
Authors: Curcic B.P.M. , Sarbu S.M. , Dimitrijevic R.N. , Curcic S.B.
Published: October 2014

Only two species of Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) (Chthoniidae) are presently
known from Dobruja, Romania. Among these one should mention Chthonius
(Ephippiochthonius) tetrachelatus (Preyssler) (not endemic) and C. (E.)
scythicus Georgescu & C?pu?e (endemic). A new cave species belonging to the
genus Chthonius - Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) borissketi Curcic and Sarbu
n. sp., is described from a well nr. Movile Cave, Mangalia, Romania and is
endemic to the area studied. Its taxonomic relationships with phenetically
close congeners, as well as its comparative morphological traits, are
described in detail.
What we learn from randomized trials in rectal cancer and what we can trust
Authors: Valentini Vincenzo , Cellini Francesco
Published: October 2014

Results of the management of rectal cancer have enormously improved over the
last almost forty years, by the progressive development of new integrated
treatment options. nevertheless an optimization of the results is needed to
raise the still sub-optimal outcome in terms of survival. several national
and international guidelines address the best treatment choice overall
evaluating the evidence basis available from literature. Still a certain
degree of disagreement is present, particularly about the preferable
preoperative rt treatment schedule. randomized trials represent the main
landmark and most important tool for the scientific scenario: defining a
potentially established standard of care, or suggesting the more promising
approach to focus the re- search into, thus orienting the efforts of
clinicians and researchers. This manuscript will mainly focus on the
evidences derived from randomized clinical trial describing the main issues
about the multimodal integrated treatment for rectal cancers. It will focus
on both locally advanced (LA)/primary unresectable (UR), and resectable
rectal cancers; some non-randomized trials of relevant the dissertation
will also be mentioned.
Management of antibiotic related and clostridium difficile colitis
Authors: Haboubi Najib , Krivokapic Zoran
Published: October 2014

Nearly all antibiotics can cause some form of diarrhoea. Clostridium
difficile infection has become an important area in our daily clinical
practice and is known to cause a broad spectrum of conditions ranging from
asymptomatic carriage to the life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis (PMC),
with toxic megacolon and ileus. Patients most at risk are those who have been
treated with broad spectrum antibiotics, those with serious underlying
co-morbidities and the elderly. Over 80% of Clostridium difficile infection
reported are in people aged over 65 years. Combination of rapid and accurate
diagnosis will result in a better management of Clostridium difficile
infection. Discontinuation of causative agents such as antibiotic treatment
is often curative. In more serious cases, oral administration of metronidazole
or vancomycin is the treatment of choice. Patients should be treated promptly
when the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile colitis is made to avoid sepsis
or bowel perforation. Relapses of Clostridium difficile infection have been
reported in about 20-25% of cases, this may increase to 45-60% after the
first recurrence on. In some cases colectomy may improve the outcome of the
patient with systemic infection or complicated Clostridium difficile colitis.
This article reviews the current literature regarding epidemiological
picture, microbiology, histopathology and both medical and surgical
managements.
Ultraviolet Radiation Suppresses Obesity and Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome Independently of Vitamin D in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Geldenhuys Sian , Hart Prue H. , Endersby Raelene , Jacoby Peter , Feelisch Martin , Weller Richard B. , Matthews Vance , Gorman Shelley
Published: October 2014

The role of vitamin D in curtailing the development of obesity and comorbidities such as the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes has received much attention recently. However, clinical trials have failed to conclusively demonstrate the benefits of vitamin D supplementation. In most studies, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] decreases with increasing BMI above normal weight. These low 25(OH)D levels may also be a proxy for reduced exposure to sunlight-derived ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Here we investigate whether UVR and/or vitamin D supplementation modifies the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in a murine model of obesity. Long-term suberythemal and erythemal UVR significantly suppressed weight gain, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease measures; and serum levels of fasting insulin, glucose, and cholesterol in C57BL/6 male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, many of the benefits of UVR were not reproduced by vitamin D supplementation. In further mechanistic studies, skin induction of the UVR-induced mediator nitric oxide (NO) reproduced many of the effects of UVR. These studies suggest that UVR (sunlight exposure) may be an effective means of suppressing the development of obesity and MetS, through mechanisms that are independent of vitamin D but dependent on other UVR-induced mediators such as NO.
Regulation of Energy Balance by the Hypothalamic Lipoprotein Lipase Regulator Angptl3
Authors: Kim Hyun-Kyong , Shin Mi-Seon , Youn Byung-Soo , Kang Gil Myoung , Gil So Young , Lee Chan Hee , Choi Jong Han , Lim Hyo Sun , Yoo Hyun Ju , Kim Min-Seon
Published: October 2014

Hypothalamic lipid sensing is important for the maintenance of energy balance. Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (Angptl3) critically regulates the clearance of circulating lipids by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The current study demonstrated that Angptl3 is highly expressed in the neurons of the mediobasal hypothalamus, an important area in brain lipid sensing. Suppression of hypothalamic Angptl3 increased food intake but reduced energy expenditure and fat oxidation, thereby promoting weight gain. Consistently, intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of Angptl3 caused the opposite metabolic changes, supporting an important role for hypothalamic Angptl3 in the control of energy balance. Notably, ICV Angptl3 significantly stimulated hypothalamic LPL activity. Moreover, coadministration of the LPL inhibitor apolipoprotein C3 antagonized the effects of Angptl3 on energy metabolism, indicating that LPL activation is critical for the central metabolic actions of Angptl3. Increased LPL activity is expected to promote lipid uptake by hypothalamic neurons, leading to enhanced brain lipid sensing. Indeed, ICV injection of Angptl3 increased long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) and LCFA-CoA levels in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, inhibitors of hypothalamic lipid-sensing pathways prevented Angptl3-induced anorexia and weight loss. These findings identify Angptl3 as a novel regulator of the hypothalamic lipid-sensing pathway.
Natriuretic Peptides, Heart, and Adipose Tissue: New Findings and Future Developments for Diabetes Research
Authors: Gruden Gabriella , Landi Andrea , Bruno Graziella
Published: October 2014

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) play a key role in cardiovascular homeostasis, counteracting the deleterious effects of volume and pressure overload and activating antibrotic and antihypertrophic pathways in the heart. N-terminal B-type NP (NT-proBNP) also is a promising biomarker of global cardiovascular risk in the general population, and there is increasing interest on its potential use in diabetic patients for screening of silent cardiovascular abnormalities, cardiovascular risk stratification, and guided intervention. Recently, both atrial NP (ANP) and B-type NP (BNP) have emerged as key mediators in the control of metabolic processes including the heart in the network of organs that regulate energy usage and metabolism. Epidemiological studies have shown that ANP and BNP are reduced in people with obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, and this deficiency may contribute to enhance their global cardiovascular risk. Moreover, ANP and BNP have receptors in the adipose tissue, enhance lipolysis and energy expenditure, and modulate adipokine release and food intake. Therefore, low ANP and BNP levels may be not only a consequence but also a cause of obesity, and recent prospective studies have shown that low levels of NT-proBNP and midregional proANP (MR-proANP) are a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes onset. Whether ANP and BNP supplementation may result in either cardiovascular or metabolic benefits in humans remains, however, to be established.
A New Steroidal Glycoside and Potential Anticancer Cytotoxic Activity of Compounds Isolated from the Bulbs of Lilium Callosum
Authors: Wang Xiao , Wu Guo Qing
Published: October 2014

Callosum A, a new steroidal glycoside, has been isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of Lilium callosum, along with five known steroidal glycosides, reported for the first time from Lilium callosum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and from literature values. All compounds were tested for anticancer cytotoxic activity against GSC-7901, K562, and SPCA-1 cells.
An Efficient Method for the Synthesis of N-Amino-2-Pyridones using Reusable Catalyst ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Safaei-Ghomi Javad , Saberi-Moghadam Mohammad Reza , Shahbazi-Alavi Hossein , Asgari-Kheirabadi Mehrnoosh
Published: October 2014

A concise and highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of N-amino-2-pyridones has been developed by a four-component coupling of hydrazine hydrate, ethyl cyanoacetate, malononitrile and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles under mild conditions. The key advantages of this process are using an inexpensive and reusable catalyst, easy work-up and excellent yields.
Pyridine-Mediated N-Vinylation of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Mild, Stereoselective and General Synthesis
Authors: Shahraki Azam , Hassanabadi Alireza
Published: October 2014

A good yield from the stereoselective synthesis of N-vinylated heterocyclic compounds is described involving the reaction of acetylenic esters and NH heterocyclic compounds in the presence of pyridine. This one-pot method is simple, effective under mild conditions and affords excellent yields.
An Efficient Three-Component Synthesis of Trispiropyrrolidines Derivatives through 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction
Authors: Feng Guo-Liang , Li Yue , Chen Shao-Rui , Geng Li-Jun , Wang Kai-Fang
Published: October 2014

The synthesis of novel trispiropyrrolidine derivatives has been achieved by a one-pot, three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 3-aryl-5-arylmethylenespiro[indole-3’,2-[1,3]thiazolane]-2'(1 H),4-dione, isatin and sarcosine in refluxing toluene which produced the corresponding cycloadducts in good yields. The structures were determined by 1H NMR, IR and elementary analysis.
Selective Bromination of Pyrrole Derivatives, Carbazole and Aromatic Amines with DMSO/HBr under Mild Conditions
Authors: Liu Cong , Dai Rongji , Yao Guowei , Deng Yulin
Published: October 2014

Bromination of pyrrole derivatives, carbazole and aromatic amines using the DMSO/HBr system affords high yields of the corresponding bromo compounds. Temperature control used in the bromination of anilines helped to promote selective formation of mono- or di-brominated products. Simple operation, low toxicity and high selectivity make this a promising new procedure for the bromination of aromatic compounds.
Selective Zn2+ Recognition of Novel Triazole Schiff-Base Derivatives Bearing the Coumarin Group
Authors: Wang Wei , Qi Shuai , Liu Qing-Lei , Lei Ya-Nan , Yuan Wen-Jing , Gao Yan
Published: October 2014

Three novel triazole Schiff-bases derivatives bearing coumarin units have been synthesised from 3,5-diaryl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole with three kinds of coumarin aldehydes. The UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of ( E)-4-((3,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ylimino)methyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one exhibited blue-shifted absorption and fluorescent enhancement upon chelation to zinc ion as a 2: 1 ligand-to-metal complex with a binding constant of 3.29 × 106 M−1.
In vitro Biological Investigations of Novel Piperazine Based Heterocycles
Authors: Chhatriwala Nirmal M. , Patel Amit B. , Patel Rahul V. , Kumari Premlata
Published: October 2014

Eleven N-phenyl- and 11 N-benzothiazolyl-2-(4-(2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)acetamides have been synthesised by a simple and efficient method. The 22 novel compounds were tested for their in vitro biological efficacy against two Gram-positive bacteria, three Gram-negative bacteria, two fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The bioassay results revealed that the majority of the N -benzothiazole-substituted piperazine derivatives exhibited moderate to good bioefficacies with encouraging MICs. The influence of the presence or absence of various electron-withdrawing or -donating functional groups on the aryl acetamide moiety on the different bioassay results is discussed.
Synthesis of Some New Phthalazines and their Evaluation as Corrosion Inhibitors of Steel
Authors: Hemdan Magdy M. , Taha Sherif M. , Gabr Adel M. , Elkady Mohamed Y.
Published: October 2014

A convenient synthesis has been achieved of 11 substituted phthalazines starting from the condensation of 2-( p-toluoyl)benzoic acid with hydrazine and some of its simple congeners, H2NNHR. Four of the phthalazines showed activity as inhibitors of the corrosion of steel immersed in 5 M HCl solutions.
Synthesis and Fe3+ Recognition of Novel Triazole Schiff-Base Derivatives Bearing Fluorogenic Naphthalene and Anthracene Units
Authors: Wang Wei , Yu Xiaolong , Zhang Qiang , Li Mingzhu , Jiang Xiaoyu , Liu Qinglei , Gao Yan
Published: October 2014

Novel triazole Schiff-bases derivatives have been synthesised from 3,5-diaryl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole with naphthaldehyde and anthraldehyde. The emission spectrum of 3,5-diphenyl-4-(anthrylmethyleneamino)-1,2,4-triazole exhibited fluorescent quenching upon chelation to Fe3+ ions.
Antimicrobial Activity of Chemokine CXCL10 for Dermal and Oral Microorganisms
Authors: Holdren Grant , Rosenthal David , Yang Jianyi , Bates Amber , Fischer Carol , Zhang Yang , Brogden Nicole , Brogden Kim
Published: October 2014

CXCL10 (IP-10) is a small 10 kDa chemokine with antimicrobial activity. It is induced by IFN-γ, chemoattracts mononuclear cells, and promotes adhesion of T cells. Recently, we detected CXCL10 on the surface of the skin and in the oral cavity. In the current study, we used broth microdilution and radial diffusion assays to show that CXCL10 inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium jeikeium, Corynebacterium striatum, and Candida albicans HMV4C, but not Corynebacterium bovis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Poryphromonas gingivalis, or C. albicans ATCC 64124. The reason for the selective antimicrobial activity is not yet known. However, antimicrobial activity of CXCL10 may be related to its composition and structure, as a cationic 98 amino acid residue molecule with 10 lysine residues, 7 arginine residues, a total net charge of +11, and a theoretical pI of 9.93. Modeling studies revealed that CXCL10 contains an α-helix at the N-terminal, three anti-parallel β-strands in the middle, and an α-helix at the C-terminal. Thus, CXCL10, when produced on the surface of the skin or in the oral cavity, likely has antimicrobial activity and may enhance innate antimicrobial and cellular responses to the presence of select commensal or opportunistic microorganisms.
Optimization of the Aqueous Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Leaves
Authors: Goldsmith Chloe , Vuong Quan , Stathopoulos Costas , Roach Paul , Scarlett Christopher
Published: October 2014

Olive leaves are an agricultural waste of the olive-oil industry representing up to 10% of the dry weight arriving at olive mills. Disposal of this waste adds additional expense to farmers. Olive leaves have been shown to have a high concentration of phenolic compounds. In an attempt to utilize this waste product for phenolic compounds, we optimized their extraction using water—a “green” extraction solvent that has not yet been investigated for this purpose. Experiments were carried out according to a Box Behnken design, and the best possible combination of temperature, extraction time and sample-to-solvent ratio for the extraction of phenolic compounds with a high antioxidant activity was obtained using RSM; the optimal conditions for the highest yield of phenolic compounds was 90 °C for 70 min at a sample-to-solvent ratio of 1:100 g/mL; however, at 1:60 g/mL, we retained 80% of the total phenolic compounds and maximized antioxidant capacity. Therefore the sample-to-solvent ratio of 1:60 was chosen as optimal and used for further validation. The validation test fell inside the confidence range indicated by the RSM output; hence, the statistical model was trusted. The proposed method is inexpensive, easily up-scaled to industry and shows potential as an additional source of income for olive growers.
ERP Indices of Stimulus Prediction in Letter Sequences
Authors: Kaan Edith , Carlisle Evan
Published: October 2014

Given the current focus on anticipation in perception, action and cognition, including language processing, there is a need for a method to tap into predictive processing in situations in which cue and feedback stimuli are not explicitly marked as such. To this aim, event related potentials (ERPs) were obtained while participants viewed alphabetic letter sequences (“A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, …), in which the letters were highly predictable, and random sequences (“S”, “B”, “A”, “I”, “F”, “M”, …), without feedback. Occasionally, the presentation of a letter in a sequence was delayed by 300 ms. During this delay period, an increased negativity was observed for predictive versus random sequences. In addition, the early positivity following the delay was larger for predictive compared with random sequences. These results suggest that expectation-sensitive ERP modulations can be elicited in anticipation of stimuli that are not explicit targets, rewards, feedback or instructions, and that a delay can strengthen the prediction for a particular stimulus. Applications to language processing will be discussed.
Partial Encryption of Entropy-Coded Video Compression Using Coupled Chaotic Maps
Authors: Almasalha Fadi , Hasimoto-Beltran Rogelio , Khokhar Ashfaq
Published: October 2014

Due to pervasive communication infrastructures, a plethora of enabling technologies is being developed over mobile and wired networks. Among these, video streaming services over IP are the most challenging in terms of quality, real-time requirements and security. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to efficiently secure variable length coded (VLC) multimedia bit streams, such as H.264. It is based on code word error diffusion and variable size segment shuffling. The codeword diffusion and the shuffling mechanisms are based on random operations from a secure and computationally efficient chaos-based pseudo-random number generator. The proposed scheme is ubiquitous to the end users and can be deployed at any node in the network. It provides different levels of security, with encrypted data volume fluctuating between 5.5–17%. It works on the compressed bit stream without requiring any decoding. It provides excellent encryption speeds on different platforms, including mobile devices. It is 200% faster and 150% more power efficient when compared with AES software-based full encryption schemes. Regarding security, the scheme is robust to well-known attacks in the literature, such as brute force and known/chosen plain text attacks.
Impacts of Deforestation and Climate Variability on Terrestrial Evapotranspiration in Subarctic China
Authors: Yao Yunjun , Liang Shunlin , Cheng Jie , Lin Yi , Jia Kun , Liu Meng
Published: October 2014

Although deforestation affects hydrological and climatic variables over tropical regions, its actual contributions to changes in evapotranspiration (ET) over subarctic China remain unknown. To establish a quantitative relationship between deforestation and terrestrial ET variations, we estimated ET using a semi-empirical Penman (SEMI-PM) algorithm driven by meteorological and satellite data at both local and regional scales. The results indicate that the estimated ET can be used to analyse the observed inter-annual variations. There is a statistically significant positive relationship between local-scale forest cover changes (∆F) and annual ET variations (∆ET) of the following form: ∆ET = 0.0377∆F – 2.11 (R2 = 0.43, p < 0.05). This relationship may be due to deforestation-induced increases in surface albedo and a reduction in the fractional vegetation cover (FVC). However, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), rather than deforestation, dominates the multi-decadal ET variability due to regional-scale wind speed changes, but the exact effects of deforestation and ENSO on ET are challenging to quantify.
Mapping VHR Water Depth, Seabed and Land Cover Using Google Earth Data
Authors: Collin Antoine , Nadaoka Kazuo , Nakamura Takashi
Published: October 2014

Google Earth (GE) provides very high resolution (VHR) natural-colored (red-green-blue, RGB) images based on commercial spaceborne sensors over worldwide coastal areas. GE is rarely used as a direct data source to address coastal issues despite the tremendous potential of data transferability. This paper describes an inexpensive and easy-to-implement methodology to construct a GE natural-colored dataset with a submeter pixel size over 44 km2 to accurately map the water depth, seabed and land cover along a seamless coastal area in subtropical Japan (Shiraho, Ishigaki Island). The valuation of the GE images for the three mapping types was quantified by comparison with directly-purchased images. We found that both RGB GE-derived mosaic and pansharpened QuickBird (QB) imagery yielded satisfactory results for mapping water depth (R2GE = 0.71 and R2QB = 0.69), seabed cover (OAGE = 89.70% and OAQB = 80.40%, n = 15 classes) and land cover (OAGE = 95.32% and OAQB = 88.71%, n = 11 classes); however, the GE dataset significantly outperformed the QB dataset for all three mappings (ZWater depth = 6.29, ZSeabed = 4.10, ZLand = 3.28, αtwo-tailed < 0.002). The integration of freely available elevation data into both RGB datasets significantly improved the land cover classification accuracy (OAGE = 99.17% and OAQB = 97.80%). Implications and limitations of our findings provide insights for the use of GE VHR data by stakeholders tasked with integrated coastal zone management.
Stem Cell Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Li Ming , Guo Kequan , Ikehara Susumu
Published: October 2014

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative disorder that induces dementia in older people. It was first reported in 1907 by Alois Alzheimer, who characterized the disease as causing memory loss and cognitive impairment. Pathologic characteristics of AD are β-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration. Current therapies only target the relief of symptoms using various drugs, and do not cure the disease. Recently, stem cell therapy has been shown to be a potential approach to various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, and in this review, we focus on stem cell therapies for AD.
Effects of SC-560 in Combination with Cisplatin or Taxol on Angiogenesis in Human Ovarian Cancer Xenografts
Authors: Li Wei , Wan Liang , Zhai Ling-Yun , Wang Jane
Published: October 2014

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibitor, SC-560, combined with cisplatin or taxol, on angiogenesis in human ovarian cancer xenografts. Mice were treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of SC-560 6 mg/kg/day, i.p. injections of cisplatin 3 mg/kg every other day and i.p. injections of taxol 20 mg/kg once a week for 21 days. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); microvessel density (MVD) was determined by immunohistochemistry; and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were determined using ELISA. Expression levels of VEGF mRNA and MVD in treatment groups were inhibited significantly when compared with the control group (p < 0.05 for all), and SC-560 combined with cisplatin displayed a greater reduction in the expression of VEGF and MVD than SC-560 or cisplatin alone (p < 0.05). SC-560 combined with taxol showed a greater inhibition on VEGF mRNA expression than SC-560 or taxol alone (p < 0.05). The level of PGE2 in treatment groups was significantly reduced when compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all). These findings may indicate that cisplatin or taxol supplemented by SC-560 in human ovarian cancer xenografts enhances the inhibition effect of cisplatin or taxol alone on angiogenesis.
13-Acetoxysarcocrassolide Induces Apoptosis on Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells Through Mitochondria-Related Apoptotic Pathways: p38/JNK Activation and PI3K/AKT Suppression
Authors: Su Ching-Chyuan , Chen Jeff , Din Zhong-Hao , Su Jui-Hsin , Yang Zih-Yan , Chen Yi-Jen , Wang Robert , Wu Yu-Jen
Published: October 2014

13-acetoxysarcocrassolide (13-AC), an active compound isolated from cultured Formosa soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule, was found to possess anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities against AGS (human gastric adenocarcinoma cells) gastric carcinoma cells. The anti-tumor effects of 13-AC were determined by MTT assay, colony formation assessment, cell wound-healing assay, TUNEL/4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. 13-AC inhibited the growth and migration of gastric carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced both early and late apoptosis as assessed by flow cytometer analysis. 13-AC-induced apoptosis was confirmed through observation of a change in ΔΨm, up-regulated expression levels of Bax and Bad proteins, down-regulated expression levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 proteins, and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-9, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, inhibition of p38 and JNK activity by pretreatment with SB03580 (a p38-specific inhibitor) and SP600125 (a JNK-specific inhibitor) led to rescue of the cell cytotoxicity of 13-AC-treated AGS cells, indicating that the p38 and the JNK pathways are also involved in the 13-AC-induced cell apoptosis. Together, these results suggest that 13-AC induces cell apoptosis against gastric cancer cells through triggering of the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway as well as activation of the p38 and JNK pathways.
Sinulolides A–H, New Cyclopentenone and Butenolide Derivatives from Soft Coral Sinularia sp.
Authors: Yang Bin , Wei Xiaoyi , Huang Jingxia , Lin Xiuping , Liu Juan , Liao Shengrong , Wang Junfeng , Zhou Xuefeng , Wang Lishu , Liu Yonghong
Published: October 2014

Eight new compounds, sinulolides A–H (1–8), along with two known compounds, α-methoxy-2,3-dimethyl-butenolide (9) and sinularone D (10), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations were determined on the basis of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analysis. Compounds 5 and 10 exhibited moderate effects for the inhibition of NF-κB activation.
Structural Diversity of Copper(II) Complexes with N-(2-Pyridyl)Imidazolidin-2-Ones(Thiones) and Their in Vitro Antitumor Activity
Authors: Balewski Łukasz , Sączewski Franciszek , Bednarski Patrick , Gdaniec Maria , Borys Ewa , Makowska Anna
Published: October 2014

Six series of structurally different mono- and binuclear copper(II) complexes 5–10 were obtained by reacting N-(2-pyridyl)imidazolidin-2-ones (1a–l), N,N'-bis(2-pyridyl)imidazolidin-2-ones (2a,b), N-acyl-N'(2-pyridyl)imidazolodin-2-ones (3a–j) and N-(2-pyridyl)imidazolidine-2-thiones (4a–g) with copper(II) chloride at an ambient temperature. The coordination modes of the complexes obtained were established by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopic data and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of both the free ligands and copper(II) complexes were evaluated using a crystal violet microtiter plate assay on five human tumor cell lines: LCLC-103H, A-427, SISO, RT-4 and DAN-G. The free ligands 1–4 at concentration attainable in cancer cells of 20 μM showed no meaningful cytotoxic effect with cell viability in the range of 88%–100%. The most potent copper(II) complex of 1-(6-ethoxy-2-pyridyl)imidazolidin-2-one (6b) exhibited selective cytotoxicity against A-427 lung cancer cell line, while the complexes of 1-(5-methyl-2-pyridyl)imidazolidine-2-thione (5h) and 1-(4-tert-butyl-2-pyridyl)imidazolidine-2-thione (5j) showed cytostatic effect against a whole panel of five human tumor cell lines. In conclusion, the only complexes that showed remarkably increased activity in comparison to the free ligands were those obtained from N-(2-pyridyl)imidazolidine-2-thiones 4c and 4e substituted with alkyl group at position 4 or 5 of pyridine ring.
A Method to Reconstruct the Solar-Induced Canopy Fluorescence Spectrum from Hyperspectral Measurements
Authors: Zhao Feng , Guo Yiqing , Verhoef Wout , Gu Xingfa , Liu Liangyun , Yang Guijun
Published: October 2014

A method for canopy Fluorescence Spectrum Reconstruction (FSR) is proposed in this study, which can be used to retrieve the solar-induced canopy fluorescence spectrum over the whole chlorophyll fluorescence emission region from 640–850 nm. Firstly, the radiance of the solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (Fs) at five absorption lines of the solar spectrum was retrieved by a Spectral Fitting Method (SFM). The Singular Vector Decomposition (SVD) technique was then used to extract three basis spectra from a training dataset simulated by the model SCOPE (Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy fluxes). Finally, these basis spectra were linearly combined to reconstruct the Fs spectrum, and the coefficients of them were determined by Weighted Linear Least Squares (WLLS) fitting with the five retrieved Fs values. Results for simulated datasets indicate that the FSR method could accurately reconstruct the Fs spectra from hyperspectral measurements acquired by instruments of high Spectral Resolution (SR) and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The FSR method was also applied to an experimental dataset acquired in a diurnal experiment. The diurnal change of the reconstructed Fs spectra shows that the Fs radiance around noon was higher than that in the morning and afternoon, which is consistent with former studies. Finally, the potential and limitations of this method are discussed.
A Study of Concrete Slab Damage Detection Based on the Electromechanical Impedance Method
Authors: Hu Xianyan , Zhu Hongping , Wang Dansheng
Published: October 2014

Piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is being gradually applied into practice as a new intelligent material for structural health monitoring. In order to study the damage detection properties of PZT on concrete slabs, simply supported reinforced concrete slabs with piezoelectric patches attached to their surfaces were chosen as the research objects and the Electromechanical Impedance method (EMI) was adopted for research. Five kinds of damage condition were designed to test the impedance values at different frequency bands. Consistent rules are found by calculation and analysis. Both the root mean square deviation (RMSD) and the correlation coefficient deviation (CCD) damage indices are capable of detecting the structural damage. The newly proposed damage index Ry/Rx can also predict the changes well. The numerical and experimental studies verify that the Electromechanical Impedance method can accurately predict changes in the amount of damage in reinforced concrete slabs. The damage index changes regularly with the distance of damages to the sensor. This relationship can be used to determine the damage location. The newly proposed damage index Ry/Rx is accurate in determining the damage location.
Unpacking Social Media’s Role in Resource Provision: Variations across Relational and Communicative Properties
Authors: Vitak Jessica
Published: October 2014

New information and communication technologies (ICTs) challenge existing beliefs regarding the exchange of social resources within a network. The present study examines individuals’ perceived access to social, emotional, and instrumental resources by analyzing relational and Facebook-specific characteristics of dyadic relationships. Results suggest that the social and technical affordances of the site—including visibility of content and connections, as well as streamlined processes for interacting with a large audience—may augment existing perceptions of resource access for some ties while providing a major (or sole) outlet to interact and exchange resources with others. Specifically, weaker ties appear to benefit more than strong ties from engagement in directed communication and relationship maintenance strategies, while additional variations were observed across relationship category, dyad composition, and geographic proximity. In summary, these findings provide new evidence for how positive relational gains may be derived from site use.
Towards the “Undoing” of Gender in Mixed-Sex Martial Arts and Combat Sports
Authors: Channon Alex
Published: October 2014

This paper addresses sex integration in martial arts and combat sports, discussing the implications of mixed-sex training for challenging orthodox Western constructions of gender. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 37 long-term martial arts practitioners from around the English East Midlands between 2007–2011, the paper argues that restrictive, essentialist and hierarchal conceptions of sex difference can be challenged through integrated training practices. The paper advocates the “undoing” of gender in this regard as helping to build a more progressive, inclusive and liberal form of physical culture, seen as a key potential of sex-integrated training. To that end, the paper makes a number of proposals for instructors and practitioners interested in developing such inclusive environments in their own clubs and training settings.
Assessing Heat Health Risk for Sustainability in Beijing’s Urban Heat Island
Authors: Dong Weihua , Liu Zhao , Zhang Lijie , Tang Qiuhong , Liao Hua , Li Xian'en
Published: October 2014

This research is motivated by the increasing threat of urban heat waves that are likely worsened by pervasive global warming and urbanization. Different regions of the city including urban, borderland and rural area will experience different levels of heat health risk. In this paper, we propose an improved approach to quantitatively assess Beijing’s heat health risk based on three factors from hazard, vulnerability and especially environment which is considered as an independent factor because different land use/cover types have different influence on ambient air temperatures under the Urban Heat Island effect. The results show that the heat health risk of Beijing demonstrates a spatial-temporal pattern with higher risk in the urban area, lower risk in the borderland between urban and rural area, and lowest risk in the rural area, and the total risk fluctuated dramatically during 2008–2011. To be more specific, the heat health risk was clearly higher in 2009 and 2010 than in 2008 and 2011. Further analysis with the urban area at sub-district level signifies that the impervious surface (urban area such as buildings, roads, et al.) ratio is of high correlation with the heat health risk. The validation results show that the proposed method improved the accuracy of heat health risk assessment. We recommend that policy makers should develop efficient urban planning to accomplish Beijing’s sustainable development.
Business Models for Solar Powered Charging Stations to Develop Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Robinson Jessica , Brase Gary , Griswold Wendy , Jackson Chad , Erickson Larry
Published: October 2014

Electric power must become less dependent on fossil fuels and transportation must become more electric to decrease carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Increasing availability and accessibility of charging stations is predicted to increase purchases of electric vehicles. In order to address the current inadequate charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, major entities must adopt business models for solar powered charging stations (SPCS). These SPCS should be located in parking lots to produce electricity for the grid and provide an integrated infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. Due to the lack of information related to SPCS business models, this manuscript designs several models for major entities including industry, the federal and state government, utilities, universities, and public parking. A literature review of the available relevant business models and case studies of constructed charging stations was completed to support the proposals. In addition, a survey of a university’s students, staff, and faculty was conducted to provide consumer research on people’s opinion of SPCS construction and preference of business model aspects. Results showed that 69% of respondents would be more willing to invest in an electric vehicle if there was sufficient charging station infrastructure at the university. Among many recommendations, the business models suggest installing level 1 charging for the majority of entities, and to match entities’ current pricing structures for station use. The manuscript discusses the impacts of fossil fuel use, and the benefits of electric car and SPCS use, accommodates for the present gap in available literature on SPCS business models, and provides current consumer data for SPCS and the models proposed.
Exploring the Impact of Complementary Assets on the Environmental Performance in Manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Woo Chungwon , Chung Yanghon , Chun Dongphil , Seo Hangyeol
Published: October 2014

As the impact of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the environment increases, there is a need for effective environmental policies to sustain their development. Under this condition, SMEs implement innovation to meet environmental regulations and to achieve environmental competitiveness in sustainability. We examine the impact of environmental innovation on labor productivity in SME manufacturers. The literature shows that complementary assets help SMEs to increase their performance in environmental innovation. Therefore, we study the interactive effects of the SMEs’ business-group affiliation and the listing status on the relationship between environmental innovation and labor productivity. We add these interaction terms to multivariate regressions by using the 2010 Korea Innovation Survey. The results show that SMEs are able to use environmental innovation as a business strategy for green growth with improved labor productivity. Also, the results highlight that the business-group affiliation and the listing status as the complementary assets positively moderate the performance of the environmental innovation of the SMEs.
Human Viruses and Cancer
Authors: Morales-Sánchez Abigail , Fuentes-Pananá Ezequiel
Published: October 2014

The first human tumor virus was discovered in the middle of the last century by Anthony Epstein, Bert Achong and Yvonne Barr in African pediatric patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma. To date, seven viruses -EBV, KSHV, high-risk HPV, MCPV, HBV, HCV and HTLV1- have been consistently linked to different types of human cancer, and infections are estimated to account for up to 20% of all cancer cases worldwide. Viral oncogenic mechanisms generally include: generation of genomic instability, increase in the rate of cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, alterations in DNA repair mechanisms and cell polarity changes, which often coexist with evasion mechanisms of the antiviral immune response. Viral agents also indirectly contribute to the development of cancer mainly through immunosuppression or chronic inflammation, but also through chronic antigenic stimulation. There is also evidence that viruses can modulate the malignant properties of an established tumor. In the present work, causation criteria for viruses and cancer will be described, as well as the viral agents that comply with these criteria in human tumors, their epidemiological and biological characteristics, the molecular mechanisms by which they induce cellular transformation and their associated cancers.
« Juste valeur » et « prix de modèle » : une comparaison internationale de la structure des portefeuilles de	trading et du ratio « rentabilité »
Authors: Clerc Laurent , Marteau Didier
Published: October 2014

Mise en cause dès le déclenchement de la crise financière en 2007, en raison de sa dimension procyclique, la « juste valeur » reste, sept ans plus tard, le mode unique de valorisation comptable du portefeuille de négociation ( trading ) des banques. Cette situation soulève une question importante pour le régulateur dans la perspective de la prévention du risque systémique. Elle part de l’observation que l’évaluation comptable des portefeuilles de trading au « prix de marché » est en fait très marginale par rapport à l’évaluation au « prix de modèle ». Dans cet article, nous mesurons tout d’abord la répartition de la valorisation des portefeuilles de trading , entre le mark to market et le mark to model . Nous calculons ensuite une mesure du return on equity (ROE) des activités de trading, en rapportant le résultat brut au montant des fonds propres réglementaires assis sur la value at risk (VaR), et constatons que ce ROE est non seulement anormalement élevé mais également qu’il est resté stable depuis le déclenchement de la crise. En outre, nous établissons que la rentabilité des activités de trading des banques est positivement et significativement corrélée au poids du mark to model dans le total du portefeuille, et en particulier au poids des actifs de « niveau 3 ». Classification JEL : G15, G21, G28, M48.
Programmed Death-1 Impairs Secondary Effector Lung CD8+ T Cells during Respiratory Virus Reinfection
Authors: Erickson John J. , Rogers Meredith C. , Hastings Andrew K. , Tollefson Sharon J. , Williams John V.
Published: October 2014

Reinfections with respiratory viruses are common and cause significant clinical illness, yet precise mechanisms governing this susceptibility are ill defined. Lung Ag-specific CD8+ T cells (TCD8) are impaired during acute viral lower respiratory infection by the inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1). To determine whether PD-1 contributes to recurrent infection, we first established a model of reinfection by challenging B cell–deficient mice with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) several weeks after primary infection, and found that HMPV replicated to high titers in the lungs. A robust secondary effector lung TCD8 response was generated during reinfection, but these cells were more impaired and more highly expressed the inhibitory receptors PD-1, LAG-3, and 2B4 than primary TCD8. In vitro blockade demonstrated that PD-1 was the dominant inhibitory receptor early after reinfection. In vivo therapeutic PD-1 blockade during HMPV reinfection restored lung TCD8 effector functions (i.e., degranulation and cytokine production) and enhanced viral clearance. PD-1 also limited the protective efficacy of HMPV epitope–specific peptide vaccination and impaired lung TCD8 during heterotypic influenza virus challenge infection. Our results indicate that PD-1 signaling may contribute to respiratory virus reinfection and evasion of vaccine-elicited immune responses. These results have important implications for the design of effective vaccines against respiratory viruses.
Lyn Deficiency Leads to Increased Microbiota-Dependent Intestinal Inflammation and Susceptibility to Enteric Pathogens
Authors: Roberts Morgan E. , Bishop Jennifer L. , Fan Xueling , Beer Jennifer L. , Kum Winnie W. S. , Krebs Danielle L. , Huang Morris , Gill Navkiran , Priatel John J. , Finlay B. Brett , Harder Kenneth W.
Published: October 2014

The Lyn tyrosine kinase governs the development and function of various immune cells, and its dysregulation has been linked to malignancy and autoimmunity. Using models of chemically induced colitis and enteric infection, we show that Lyn plays a critical role in regulating the intestinal microbiota and inflammatory responses as well as protection from enteric pathogens. Lyn−/− mice were highly susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis, characterized by significant wasting, rectal bleeding, colonic pathology, and enhanced barrier permeability. Increased DSS susceptibility in Lyn−/− mice required the presence of T but not B cells and correlated with dysbiosis and increased IFN-γ+ and/or IL-17+ colonic T cells. This dysbiosis was characterized by an expansion of segmented filamentous bacteria, associated with altered intestinal production of IL-22 and IgA, and was transmissible to wild-type mice, resulting in increased susceptibility to DSS. Lyn deficiency also resulted in an inability to control infection by the enteric pathogens Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Citrobacter rodentium. Lyn−/− mice exhibited profound cecal inflammation, bacterial dissemination, and morbidity following S. Typhimurium challenge and greater colonic inflammation throughout the course of C. rodentium infection. These results identify Lyn as a key regulator of the mucosal immune system, governing pathophysiology in multiple models of intestinal disease.