bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atividade enzimática em plântulas de Eucalyptus grandis provenientes de sementes envelhecidas artificialmente e naturalmente.
Authors: Camargo Maria Letícia Pereira de , Mori Edson Seizo , Mello Eduardo José de , Oda Shinitiro , Lima Giuseppina Pacce
Published: May 2017

O presente estudo empregou o procedimento de envelhecimento artificial, submetendo sementes por 96 horas à 42° C e 100% de UR para compará-las com sementes estocadas por 5, 10 e 15 anos e utilizou eletroforese de isoenzimas e atividade de peroxidase por método colorimétrico. Houve um decréscimo significante na germinação das sementes envelhecidas artificialmente, quando comparadas com as sementes estocadas. A atividade da peroxidase foi baixa, porém houve uma curva ascendente que acompanhou a idade das sementes. Observou-se um aumento nas atividades da malato desidrogenase e a-esterase 2 e 3 e uma diminuição acentuada para a-esterase 1 e baixa para a fosfatase ácida. Os resultados acompanharam o aumento do tempo de estocagem das sementes e do estresse que ocorre por causa das condições de temperatura e umidade empregadas no processo de envelhecimento artificial.
Alternativas de formicidas em pó no controle da formiga-vermelha-de-monte, Acromyrmex heyeri.
Authors: Link Fábio Moreira , Link Henrique Moreira , Link Dionisio
Published: May 2017

Com o objetivo de criar alternativas no controle químico da formiga-vermelha-de-monte, Acromyrmex heyeri (Forel, 1899) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Attini)  foram instalados quatro ensaios com formicidas em pó, em Santa Maria, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, entre 1996 e 1998. Avaliaram-se em formigueiros médios (+/- 45cm de diâmetro) ou em formigueiros grandes (diâmetro superior a 60cm), doses de Deltametrina (2g i.a./kg), de Acefato (750g i.a./kg), de Clorpirifós (20g i.a./kg e 50g i.a./kg), de Fentiom (50g i.a./kg) e de Diazinom (10g i.a./kg). Deltametrina e Acefato, partindo-se de 5g/ninho e, Clorpirifós (50g i.a./kg) e Fentiom, partindo-se de 10g/ninho, foram eficazes no controle de formigueiros médios. Clorpirifós (50 g i.a./kg) e Diazinom, com base em 10g/ninho e, Clorpirifós (20g i.a./kg), partindo-se de 30g/ninho controlaram eficientemente os formigueiros grandes dessa espécie.
Estrutura e padrões de distribuição espacial de espécies arbóreas em uma amostra de Floresta Ombrófila Mista em Nova Prata, RS.
Authors: Nascimento André R. Terra , Longhi Solon Jonas , Brena Doádi Antônio
Published: May 2017

Este estudo objetiva descrever a estrutura da vegetação e os padrões de distribuição espacial das espécies arbóreas e arvoretas de uma amostra de um hectare de Floresta Ombrófila Mista, localizada no município de Nova Prata, estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Utilizando o método de área fixa, foram instaladas vinte unidades amostrais de 10 x 50 m (500 m²), perfazendo uma amostra de 100 x 100 m (10000 m2) e mensurados todos os indivíduos com DAP ³ 9,6 cm (30 cm de circunferência), que compõem o dossel da floresta. A amostra de vegetação estudada apresentou uma diversidade mediana de espécies arbóreas e arvoretas (55 espécies com DAP ³ 9,6 cm) e uma elevada densidade de indivíduos por hectare (848 ind./hectare), similares aos encontrados em florestas secundárias, no domínio da Floresta Ombrófila Mista. A vegetação, na amostra, apresentou-se com maior proporção de espécies com distribuição agregada ou com tendência à agregação (46,7 %), revelando que as maiores populações arbóreas formam pequenas manchas ou agrupamentos na vegetação, com maiores valores obtidos para a Razão Variância/Média. Este estudo, mesmo se tratando de uma análise em pequena escala espacial (10000 m²), destaca a densidade e a distribuição das espécies arbóreas a arbustivas em um trecho de floresta que sofreu exploração comercial, fragmentos importantes das florestas atuais do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Resistência à flexão estática de alguns painéis aglomerados comercializados no Rio Grande do Sul.
Authors: Haselein Clovis Roberto , Santini Elio José , Berger Rute , Eleotério Jackson Roberto , Schereen Luciano
Published: May 2017

Foram testados em flexão estática sete tipos de painéis aglomerados comercializados no RS. De cada tipo, foram retirados ao acaso cinco painéis e de cada um destes cortados três corpos de prova para os ensaios de flexão segundo a norma ASTM D1037-93 (1995). Os resultados indicam que os painéis enquadram-se nos critérios das normas norte-americanas de padronização. Para alguns tipos de painéis foi possível estabelecer modelos matemáticos relacionando módulos de elasticidade e de ruptura à massa específica.
Corpo sem órgãos e a produção da singularidade: A construção da máquina de guerra nômade
Authors: Schöpke Regina
Published: May 2017

Este trabalho tem como objetivo central mostrar como o conceito de corpo sem órgãos, que apareceu, primeiramente, na obra de Antonin Artaud, e que será reativado por Gilles Deleuze e Félix Guattari, está diretamente associado à produção da máquina de guerra nômade. Neste aspecto, é preciso ir mais longe na compreensão do sentido vital, existencial e político deste que não é um conceito propriamente dito, mas um modo de ser, um modo de se produzir e de produzir a existência. “Não é uma noção, um conceito, mas antes uma prática, um conjunto de práticas”, afirmam Deleuze e Guattari. Em um sentido bem estrito, trata-se da produção de um corpo mais pleno, mais vivo, mais intenso, um corpo de resistência para o desejo e para a própria vida, o que só é possível se  desconstruímos o corpo criado para servir docilmente aos poderes do campo social. Só que é aqui que reside o maior de todos os perigos: nem toda desconstrução se converte em criação de um corpo sem órgãos no sentido revolucionário. É preciso que a guerra vá além daquela que se trava contra os órgãos ou contra o organismo (que, aliás, se levada às últimas consequências, como sabia o próprio Artaud, significa simplesmente matar-se). A guerra é pela libertação da vida que foi aprisionada no homem e pelo próprio homem. É contra o niilismo, que nasce da opressão das forças vitais que transformou, por sua vez, nosso corpo e nossa razão em reféns dos poderes estabelecidos. Criar um corpo sem órgãos para si é já fazer parte de um devir nômade libertário, que é, antes de tudo, criador de novos modos de ser, de existir, de viver.
The roots of human responsibility
Authors: Michelis Angela
Published: May 2017

Starting from Hans Jonas’ works, this essay researches the bases of human responsibility and its reasoning is made up of four points. 1. He was aware of how his experience had influenced his thought and he questioned what means reflecting starting from extreme situations: «The apocalyptic state of things, the threatening collapse of a world, the climatic crisis of civilization, the proximity of death, the stark nakedness to which all the issues of life were stripped, all these were ground enough to take a new look at the very foundations of our being and to review the principles by which we guide our thinking on them». 2. Faced with these situations he rediscovered the richness of the Ancients’ thought. For example, the Stoics inherited and transformed the illuminating aspects of the theory that conceived of the ‘being’ as contemplation of the whole, which had permeated Greek natural philosophy and scientific speculation. They took it on as the capacity to identify one’s own most internal principle with the principle of the whole, in a more religious sense. The discovery in the whole of what is felt to be the highest and noblest in human beings – like reason, order, and form - makes our orientation towards a super-regulating end a liberating wisdom. 3. Jonas considers that starting from XVII century  the two aspects, here distinct as external and internal, remain at the core of the issue so far as the problem of freedom is concerned. Moreover, theoretical efforts now move in the direction of rendering, of discovering a conception of freedom which is logically compatible with causal determinism, while in the history of philosophy, the problem of freedom was not born in the sphere of logic. So it is necessary to rethink Modernity and how it is possible to found human freedom and responsibility nowadays.
Sensación y Política en Gilles Deleuze
Authors: Espinoza Lolas Ricardo
Published: May 2017

Este artículo interroga por la fina y precisa relación entre Arte y Política al interior del pensamiento del filósofo francés Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995). Se intenta mostrar cómo Deleuze, en parte siguiendo el trabajo inacabado y juvenil de Nietzsche, quiere realizar una filosofía política desde una lógica de la sensación. Y no como los hegelianos o marxianos o marxistas, etc. que siempre han pensado lo político desde una lógica negativa de la dialéctica histórica. El plan de Deleuze, fundamentalmente en su última etapa, en su trabajo en torno al arte, en general, y, en especial, con la pintura versa desde una lógica de la sensación. Y es desde esta lógica dónde se da el lugar que expresa lo político.
Un vitalismo deleuziano: bosquejos sobre el diagrama
Authors: Landaeta Patricio , Rojas Braulio , Cristi Ana María
Published: May 2017

El problema del vitalismo en la filosofía de Gilles Deleuze recorre toda su obra y se presenta fundamentalmente como un llamado a liberar la vida de toda forma de sujeción. Así, el vitalismo no debe ser tomado por un contenido entre otros, sino por, digámoslo así, la expresión de su propia perspectiva, que toma la filosofía por una creación de conceptos. Por ello, la presentación de lo que implica un vitalismo deleuziano exige que se plantee en el marco de su pensamiento para, evitando el mero comentario, repetir su filosofía. Siguiendo tal idea, en un primer momento, nos adentramos en la filosofía deNietzsche, específicamente en la distinción que se presenta entre una historia monumental, una historia anticuaria y una historia crítica, que discurren acerca de los preceptos de una historia útil para la vida, hasta captar, en un segundo momento, como se ven materializados en el propio trabajo de Deleuze estas apreciaciones hechas por Nietzsche en Sobre la utilidad y el perjuicio de la historia para la vida [II Intempestiva]: Deleuze equilibra en su trabajo la agudeza del metafísico, la erudición del historiador y la potencia destructiva del crítico, con vistas a procurar un saber y una experiencia al servicio de lo que potencia la vida, saber y experiencia que permiten pensar el tránsito que va desde lo que estamos dejando de ser, nuestro pasado inmediato, a lo que estamos deviniendo, nuestro futuro inmediato. Finalmente, tras esta preparación, se expone a partir de la noción de diagrama las principales consecuencias del vitalismo de Deleuze, expresión de una filosofía al servicio de la vida o, propiamente, diagnóstico de nuevas osibilidades de vida en lo que se escapa al presente.
O Realismo Científico de Mario Bunge
Authors: Bunge Mario
Published: May 2017

Mario Bunge nasceu em Buenos Aires, em 21 de setembro de 1919. Realizou seus estudos na Universidade Nacional de la Plata, obtendo seu doutorado em ciências físico-matemáticas em 1952. Foi professor de Física Teórica e Filosofia em Buenos Aires, entre 1956 a 1966. Em seguida, tornou-se professor de Lógica e Metafísica na Universidade McGill, em Montreal, onde trabalha desde 1966. Bunge recebeu vinte e quatro doutorados Honoris Causa, sendo membro da American Association for the Advancement of Science (desde 1984) e da Royal Society of Canadá (desde 1992). Em 1982, Bunge foi premiado com o Prêmio Príncipe das Astúrias, em 2009 com a bolsa Guggenheim e, em 2014, com o prêmio Ludwig Von Bertalanffy em Complexity Thinking. É autor de dezenas de livros, entre os quais estão Metascientific Queries (Charles C. Thomas, 1959); Intuition and Science (Prentice-Hall, 1962; Greenwood Press, 1975); The Myth of Simplicity. (Prentice-Hall, 1963). Scientific Research, 2 volumes (Springer, 1967); Foundations of Physics (Springer, 1967); Philosophy of Science: From Problem to Theory, Vol. 1 (Transaction Publishers, 1998); Philosophy of Science: From Explanation to Justification, Vol. 2(Transaction Publishers, 1998); Scientific Realism: Selected Essays by Mario Bunge. Ed. Martin Mahner (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2001); El problema mente – cerebro (Madrid: Tecnos, 2002); Emergence and Convergence (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003), entre outros.
Eniac in Action
Authors: Haigh Thomas , Priestley Mark , Rope Crispin
Published: May 2017

This book explores the conception, design, construction, use, and afterlife of ENIAC, the first general purpose digital electronic computer. ENIAC was created and tested at the University of Pennsylvania from 1943 to 1946, then used at the Ballistic Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Maryland until 1955. Unlike most discussion of early computers, this book focuses on ways in which ENIAC was used, and the relationship of its design to computational practice, particularly its use between 1948 and 1950 to conduct the first computerized Monte Caro simulations for Los Alamos. ENIAC’s first team of operators were all women, and the book probes their contribution to the machine’s achievements and the development of computer programming practice. ENIAC’s users changed its hardware and transformed its configuration over time, so that it eventually became the first computer to execute a modern program, defined by the authors as one following the “modern code paradigm” introduced in John von Neumann’s seminal 1945 “First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC.” They draw on new archival evidence to document the development of this idea and its relationship to work on ENIAC. They also use ENIAC to probe the construction of historical memory, looking at ways in which a bitter succession of legal battles around patent rights shaped later perceptions.
The Guidance of an Enterprise Economy
Authors: Shubik Martin , Smith Eric
Published: May 2017

This book is devoted to the study of the guidance, control and coordination problems of an enterprise economy. Our basic approach requires an understanding of the roles of money and financial institutions. Our viewpoint differs from most current approaches in stressing together specifically game theory, methods of physics and experimental gaming; together with and more generally a broader evolutionary approach from the biological and other behavioural sciences. Our intended audiences are economists, physicists, experimental gamers, accounting theorists , legal scholars and other behavioural scientists willing to explore beyond their own specialist disciplines. Our biases run primarily to an exposition most congenial to economists, experimental gamers and physicists, but we aim to have all basic concepts understandable regardless of technical background. A mathematically precise unification of Walrasian general equilibrium with macroeconomic dynamics and Schumpeterian innovation is provided utilizing strategic market games.
The HP Definition of Causality
Authors: Halpern Joseph Y.
Published: May 2017

Three variants of a definition of actual causality are introduced. These definition uses structural equations to model counterfactuals. The definition is shown to yield a plausible and elegant account of causation that handles well examples that have caused problems for other definitions. Although transitivity is not transitive according to this definition, conditions sufficient to guarantee transitivity of causality are provided. Although the definition given assumes that everything is known, it is shown to easily extend to a situation where there is uncertainty modeled using probability. A notion of sufficient causality is also considered, as well as causality in nonrecursive models, where there are circular dependencies
Hate Spin
Authors: George Cherian
Published: May 2017

Eruptions of religious intolerance are often described as spontaneous and visceral. This book, however, argues that most major episodes of religious offense are purposefully manufactured by political entrepreneurs. These actors use “hate spin” as an instrument of contentious politics. Hate spin combines conventional hate speech with the more novel strategy of offense-taking. In either of these two modes—vilification or indignation—hate spin stokes up communities’ fears, exploits identity politics, and instigates mob action. It oppresses minorities and degrades the culture of tolerance essential for democratic life. This book analyzes how hate spin works and what it means for freedom of expression. It examines the phenomenon in the world’s three largest democracies, showing how the Hindu right in India, the Muslim right in Indonesia and the Christian right in United States have all employed variants of the same strategy. It also looks at major trans-boundary cases, including online. International human rights norms provide a workable framework for a policy response. States need to prohibit incitement that would cause actual harm to vulnerable groups. But blasphemy laws and other attempts to enforce respect for religion backfire by allowing hate spin agents to hijack state power for their offense-taking campaigns. More can be achieved by promoting equality and fighting discrimination than by regulating speech. Beyond the law, resisting hate spin requires the cooperation of media and civil society, morally courageous political leadership, and an inclusive framing of national identity.
Robust Institutional Design
Authors: Bednar Jenna
Published: May 2017

Institutions are designed to alter human behavior. To remain effective over time, institutions need to adapt to changes in the environment or the society the institution is meant to regulate. Douglas North referred to this property as adaptive efficiency and suggested the need for a model of how institutions change to remain effective. This essay contributes to a theory of adaptive efficiency by relating it to the burgeoning literature in robust system design. It reviews five models of institutional change, paying particular attention to each model’s ability to explain institutional adaptation. It isolates three common structural features of a robust, adaptive institutional system: diversity, modularity, and redundancy. It illustrates the theory with a brief application to federal systems, and closes by describing some open research questions relating to institutional adaptive efficiency.
On the Cusp
Authors: Gordon Joshua A. , Redish A. David
Published: May 2017

Modern psychiatry seeks to treat disorders of the brain, the most complex and least understood organ in the human body. This complexity poses a set of challenges that make progress in psychiatric research particularly difficult, despite the development of several promising novel avenues of research. New tools that explore the neural basis of behavior have accelerated the discovery in neuroscience, yet discovery into better psychiatric treatments has not kept pace. This chapter focuses on this disconnect between the challenges and promises of psychiatric neuroscience. It highlights the need for diagnostic nosology, biomarkers, and better treatments in psychiatry, and discusses three promising conceptual advances in psychiatric neuroscience. It holds that rigorous theory is needed to address the challenges faced by psychiatrists.
Functionally diverse human T cells recognize non-microbial antigens presented by MR1
Authors: Lepore Marco , Kalinichenko Artem , Calogero Salvatore , Kumar Pavanish , Paleja Bhairav , Schmaler Mathias , Narang Vipin , Zolezzi Francesca , Poidinger Michael , Mori Lucia , De Libero Gennaro
Published: May 2017

MHC class I-related molecule MR1 presents riboflavin- and folate-related metabolites to mucosal-associated invariant T cells, but it is unknown whether MR1 can present alternative antigens to other T cell lineages. In healthy individuals we identified MR1-restricted T cells (named MR1T cells) displaying diverse TCRs and reacting to MR1-expressing cells in the absence of microbial ligands. Analysis of MR1T cell clones revealed specificity for distinct cell-derived antigens and alternative transcriptional strategies for metabolic programming, cell cycle control and functional polarization following antigen stimulation. Phenotypic and functional characterization of MR1T cell clones showed multiple chemokine receptor expression profiles and secretion of diverse effector molecules, suggesting functional heterogeneity. Accordingly, MR1T cells exhibited distinct T helper-like capacities upon MR1-dependent recognition of target cells expressing physiological levels of surface MR1. These data extend the role of MR1 beyond microbial antigen presentation and indicate MR1T cells are a normal part of the human T cell repertoire.
On the mechanistic nature of epistasis in a canonical cis-regulatory element
Authors: Lagator Mato , Paixão Tiago , Barton Nicholas H , Bollback Jonathan P , Guet Călin C
Published: May 2017

Understanding the relation between genotype and phenotype remains a major challenge. The difficulty of predicting individual mutation effects, and particularly the interactions between them, has prevented the development of a comprehensive theory that links genotypic changes to their phenotypic effects. We show that a general thermodynamic framework for gene regulation, based on a biophysical understanding of protein-DNA binding, accurately predicts the sign of epistasis in a canonical cis-regulatory element consisting of overlapping RNA polymerase and repressor binding sites. Sign and magnitude of individual mutation effects are sufficient to predict the sign of epistasis and its environmental dependence. Thus, the thermodynamic model offers the correct null prediction for epistasis between mutations across DNA-binding sites. Our results indicate that a predictive theory for the effects of cis-regulatory mutations is possible from first principles, as long as the essential molecular mechanisms and the constraints these impose on a biological system are accounted for.
Toxicity, repellency and flushing out in Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) exposed to the repellents DEET and IR3535
Authors: Reynoso Mercedes M.N. , Seccacini Emilia A. , Calcagno Javier A. , Zerba Eduardo N. , Alzogaray Raúl A.
Published: May 2017

DEET and IR3535 are insect repellents present worldwide in commercial products; their efficacy has been mainly evaluated in mosquitoes. This study compares the toxicological effects and the behavioral responses induced by both repellents on the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans Klug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Chagas disease. When applied topically, the Median Lethal Dose (72 h) for DEET was 220.8 µg/insect. Using IR3535, topical application of 500 µg/insect killed no nymphs. The minimum concentration that produced repellency was the same for both compounds: 1,15 µg/cm2. The effect of a mixture DEET:IR3535 1:1 was similar to that of their pure components. Flushing out was assessed in a chamber with a shelter containing groups of ten nymphs. The repellents were aerosolized on the shelter and the number of insects leaving it was recorded for 60 min. During that time, 0.006 g/m3 of the positive control tetramethrin flushed out 76.7% of the nymphs, while 1.76 g/m3 of DEET or IR3535 flushed out 30 and 0%, respectively. The concentrations required for both compounds to produce toxicity or flushing out are too high to have any practical applications. However, they showed a promising repellency. Additional research should be done to evaluate their possible use for personal protection against T. infestans bites.
Transcriptome analyses provide insights into the difference of alkaloids biosynthesis in the Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis Franch.) from different biotopes
Authors: Chen Hanting , Deng Cao , Nie Hu , Fan Gang , He Yang
Published: May 2017

Coptis chinensis Franch., the Chinese goldthread (‘Weilian’ in Chinese), one of the most important medicinal plants from the family Ranunculaceae, and its rhizome has been widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Here, we analyzed the chemical components and the transcriptome of the Chinese goldthread from three biotopes, including Zhenping, Zunyi and Shizhu. We built comprehensive, high-quality de novo transcriptome assemblies of the Chinese goldthread from short-read RNA-Sequencing data, obtaining 155,710 transcripts and 56,071 unigenes. More than 98.39% and 95.97% of core eukaryotic genes were found in the transcripts and unigenes respectively, indicating that this unigene set capture the majority of the coding genes. A total of 520,462, 493,718, and 507,247 heterozygous SNPs were identified in the three accessions from Zhenping, Zunyi, and Shizhu respectively, indicating high polymorphism in coding regions of the Chinese goldthread (∼1%). Chemical analyses of the rhizome identified six major components, including berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, columbamine, and jatrorrhizine. Berberine has the highest concentrations, followed by coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine sequentially for all the three accessions. The drug quality of the accession from Shizhu may be the highest among these accessions. Differential analyses of the transcriptome identified four pivotal candidate enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferaseprotein, polyphenol oxidase, primary-amine oxidase, and tyrosine decarboxylase, were significantly differentially expressed and may be responsible for the difference of alkaloids contents in the accessions from different biotopes.
Effects of knee sleeves on coordination of lower-limb segments in healthy adults during level walking and one-leg hopping
Authors: Ko Chang-Yong , Chang Yunhee , Jeong Bora , Kang Sungjae , Ryu Jeicheong , Kim Gyoosuk
Published: May 2017

The evaluation of multisegment coordination is important in gaining a better understanding of the gait and physical activities in humans. Therefore, this study aims to verify whether the use of knee sleeves affects the coordination of lower-limb segments during level walking and one-leg hopping. Eleven healthy male adults participated in this study. They were asked to walk 10 m on a level ground and perform one-leg hops with and without a knee sleeve. The segment angles and the response velocities of the thigh, shank, and foot were measured and calculated by using a motion analysis system. The phases between the segment angle and the velocity were then calculated. Moreover, the continuous relative phase (CRP) was calculated as the phase of the distal segment subtracted from the phase of the proximal segment and denoted as CRPTS (thigh–shank), CRPSF (shank–foot), and CRPTF (thigh–foot). The root mean square (RMS) values were used to evaluate the in-phase or out-of-phase states, while the standard deviation (SD) values were utilized to evaluate the variability in the stance and swing phases during level walking and in the preflight, flight, and landing phases during one-leg hopping. The walking velocity and the flight time improved when the knee sleeve was worn (p < 0.05). The segment angles of the thigh and shank also changed when the knee sleeve was worn during level walking and one-leg hopping. The RMS values of CRPTS and CRPSF in the stance phase and the RMS values of CRPSF in the preflight and landing phases changed (p < 0.05 in all cases). Moreover, the SD values of CRPTS in the landing phase and the SD values of CRPSF in the preflight and landing phases increased (p < 0.05 in all cases). These results indicated that wearing a knee sleeve caused changes in segment kinematics and coordination.
Dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation in basalts due to reactions with carbonic acid
Authors: Kanakiya Shreya , Adam Ludmila , Esteban Lionel , Rowe Michael C. , Shane Phil
Published: May 2017

One of the leading hydrothermal alteration processes in volcanic environments is when rock‐forming minerals with high concentrations of iron, magnesium, and calcium react with CO2 and water to form carbonate minerals. This is used to the advantage of geologic sequestration of anthropogenic CO2. Here we experimentally investigate how mineral carbonation processes alter the rock microstructure due to CO2‐water‐rock interactions. In order to characterize these changes, CO2‐water‐rock alteration in Auckland Volcanic Field young basalts (less than 0.3 Ma) is studied before and after a 140 day reaction period. We investigate how whole core basalts with similar geochemistry but different porosity, permeability, pore geometry, and volcanic glass content alter due to CO2‐water‐rock reactions. Ankerite and aluminosilicate minerals precipitate as secondary phases in the pore space. However, rock dissolution mechanisms are found to dominate this secondary mineral precipitation resulting in an increase in porosity and decrease in rigidity of all samples. The basalt with the highest initial porosity and volcanic glass volume shows the most secondary mineral precipitation. At the same time, this sample exhibits the greatest increase in porosity and permeability, and a decrease in rock rigidity post reaction. For the measured samples, we observe a correlation between volcanic glass volume and rock porosity increase due to rock‐fluid reactions. We believe this study can help understand the dynamic rock‐fluid interactions when monitoring field scale CO2 sequestration projects in basalts.
Plant Plasma Membrane
Authors: van Hooren Max , Munnik Teun
Published: May 2017

The plasma membrane encloses the contents of a cell and acts as a barrier between other cells and its environment. The plasma membrane consists of different classes of lipids and proteins of which the local concentration can change drastically at different parts of the cell. The membrane allows for a controlled exchange between ions and organic compounds throughout the rest of the organism and its surroundings. It forms a crucial signalling hub for growth and developmental responses and for tolerance to biotic (fungi, bacteria, viruses) and abiotic (e.g. salinity, drought, cold, heat) stresses. The plasma membrane also acts as an anchor point for the cytoskeleton and is the starting point from which the cell wall is synthesised. Key differences and similarities between plant and animal plasma membranes are discussed.

Key Concepts

Lipid bilayers provide the fundamental architecture of biological membranes.

The plasma membrane forms a key barrier between cells and their environment.

The plasma membrane is an important source to produce lipid second messengers.

Receptors facilitate extracellular and intracellular communication.

Endocytosis and exocytosis play key roles in plant growth and development and in stress tolerance.

The plasma membrane is impermeable to most molecules, especially for charged or large polar molecules.

Transporters are essential proteins facilitating transport of molecules across the plasma membrane.

The charge difference across the plasma membrane drives most of this transport.

The plasma membrane plays a central role in cellular communication.
Fabrication of Copper Surfaces with Structures Mirroring Those of Wood via Electroplating and Their Hydrophobic Properties
Authors: Wang Tianchi , Feng Xu , Kong Jian , Wong Chingping
Published: May 2017

Superhydrophobic metallic surfaces have a wide range of applications; therefore, their fabrication has drawn widespread attention. The cross‐section of wood has a tubular porous structure and exhibits hydrophobic properties. In this study, inspired by the hydrophobic properties of wood, we electroplated copper on porous wood charcoal surfaces to obtain a superhydrophobic copper surface possessing a structure mirroring that of wood in areas in contact with the wood charcoal. This study used pinewood and Fraxinus mandschurica as templates, which are first sintered under oxygen‐free conditions to obtain wood charcoal that retains the porous structure of wood. A thick layer of copper is then electroplated onto the surfaces of the porous carbon. After the copper layer is peeled off, it is found that the copper surface in contact with the porous carbon have formed a microstructure that is a mirror image of the natural structure of wood. This copper surface exhibited excellent levels of hydrophobicity after fluorosilane modification, with contact angles as high as 150°.
Fabrication of Thermoresponsive Plasmonic Core–Satellite Nanoassemblies with a Tunable Stoichiometry via Surface‐Initiated Reversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization from Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Wu Lei , Glebe Ulrich , Böker Alexander
Published: May 2017

This work presents a fabrication of thermoresponsive plasmonic core–satellite nanoassemblies. The structure has a silica nanoparticle core surrounded by gold nanoparticle satellites using thermoresponsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) chains as scaffolds. The thiol‐terminated PNIPAM shell is densely grafted on the silica core via surface‐initiated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and used to anchor numerous gold nanoparticle satellites with a tunable stoichiometry. Below and above lower critical solution temperature, the chain conformation of PNIPAM reversibly changes between swollen and shrunken state. The reversible change of the polymer size varies the refractive index of the local medium surrounding the satellites and the distance between them. The two effects together lead to the thermoresponsive plasmonic properties of the nanoassemblies. Under different satellite densities, two distinctive plasmonic features appear.
How Oxygen‐Containing Groups on Graphene Influence the Antibacterial Behaviors
Authors: Qiu Jiajun , Wang Donghui , Geng Hao , Guo Jingshu , Qian Shi , Liu Xuanyong
Published: May 2017

Graphene can be obtained with the reduction of graphene oxide (GO). Various reduction methods will result in different varieties and amounts of oxygen‐containing groups on the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with diverse properties. In this work, rGO is fabricated on the titanium surfaces by the reduction process of GO through three types of reduction methods, for example, vacuum thermal annealing, hydrazine hydrate, and sodium borohydride chemical reduction. Results show that thermal annealing can remove carboxyl entirely at 600 °C for 1 h, and hydrazine hydrate can eliminate the oxygen functionalities, especially for epoxide. For sodium borohydride, it can dispose of carbonyl by converting carbonyl into hydroxyl. The rGO with different reduction process exhibits different responses for bacteria with higher numbers of carboxyl and hydroxyl/epoxide showing more effective antibacterial activities. It is concluded that carboxyl can inhibit the adhesion of bacteria on rGO surfaces by electrostatic repulsion and kill the bacteria with oxidative pressure mediated with the production of reactive oxygen species which is closely related with hydroxyl/epoxide. Furthermore, GO and rGO all exhibit excellent biocompatibility with no cytotoxicity.
Conjugated Polyelectrolyte–Silver Nanostructure Pair for Detection and Killing of Bacteria
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Cui Qianling , Yao Chuang , Li Shengliang , Zhang Pengbo , Sun Han , Lv Fengting , Liu Libing , Li Lidong , Wang Shu
Published: May 2017

A multifunctional bioassay platform based on conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPs)–silver nanostructure pair is successfully developed for detection and killing of bacteria. The conjugated backbone and hydrophilic side chains of cationic CPs allow them to capture Escherichia coli on the surface of the platform. The captured bacteria induced fluorescence response of CPs coupled with plasmon‐enhanced fluorescence from the Ag nanostructure yields a bioassay platform for bacterial detection. Moreover, the strong antimicrobial activity of CPs, originating from its conducting polymer backbone, suggests great promise for applications as an efficient antibacterial system. This new platform permits bacterial detection and also shows antimicrobial activity suggesting great promise for application as a novel multifunctional sensing and antibacterial system.
Magnetohydrodynamics thin film fluid flow under the effect of thermophoresis and variable fluid properties
Authors: Ali Liaqat , Islam Saeed , Gul Taza , Alshomrani Ali Saleh , Khan Ilyas , Khan Aurangzeb
Published: May 2017

The thin film flow of fluid over a stretching sheet with variable fluid properties under the effect of thermophoresis has been investigated. A transverse magnetic field is also applied to the fluid flow in the presence of thermal radiation. The governing equations have been transformed through suitable similarity variables into nonlinear coupled differential equations with physical conditions. The solution of the coupled problem has been obtained by using the second alternative of OHAM (OHAM‐2). The solution of the coupled problem through this new method and its fast convergence is mainly focused in this work. The effect of physical parameters appears in the problem are shown graphically and discussed. Finally, the obtained results are compared with a numerical (ND‐Solve) method to authenticate the code of the OHAM‐2. The physical and numerical agreement of these two methods has been shown. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017
MnOx promotional effects on olefins synthesis directly from syngas over bimetallic Fe‐MnOx/SiO2 catalysts
Authors: Zhang Zhengpai , Dai Weiwei , Xu Xin‐Chao , Zhang Jun , Shi Bianfang , Xu Jing , Tu Weifeng , Han Yi‐Fan
Published: May 2017

The direct synthesis of lower olefins via the Fischer‐Tropsch reaction (FTO) has been performed over a series of Fe‐MnOx/SiO2 catalysts. The addition of MnOx could improve the dispersion of iron species, and promote the reduction of iron oxide during the activation and subsequent carburization. Moreover, the results of characterization demonstrated that MnOx could enhance the surface basicity of the catalysts due to electronic effects and promote the formation of iron carbides. For the first time, the intrinsic power‐law kinetics for FTO was obtained for both Fe20/SiO2 and Fe20‐Mn1/SiO2 catalysts. Kinetic parameters and structure characterizations indicated that MnOx could facilitate the CO dissociation on the catalyst surface, thus enhancing the adsorption strength and capacity of surface carbonaceous intermediates. The weak hydrogenation of carbonaceous species would boost the selectivities toward lower olefins. Finally, a plausible mechanism for FTO, involving the promotional effects of MnOx on Fe, has been proposed. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4451–4464, 2017
Inflammatory infiltrate and mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with and without polyps: structured histopathologic analysis
Authors: Kuhar Hannah N. , Tajudeen Bobby A. , Mahdavinia Mahboobeh , Gattuso Paolo , Ghai Ritu , Batra Pete S.
Published: May 2017

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is commonly classified into CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). Structured histopathologic reporting has the potential to identify salient histologic markers to differentiate subtypes and provide insights into pathophysiologic mechanisms in CRS.

Methods

A structured histopathology report of 13 variables was prospectively employed to analyze ethmoid sinus tissue removed during endoscopic sinus surgery for 99 patients, including 43 CRSsNP and 56 CRSwNP. These variables were compared in association with presence of nasal polyps, radiographic computed tomography scores (Lund‐Mackay Score [LMS]), subjective symptoms scores (SNOT‐22), duration of CRS, comorbid asthma, and atopy.

Results

Overall inflammation did not differentiate between CRSsNP and CRSwNP (p < 0.26). Compared to CRSsNP, CRSwNP had statistically significant increase in basement membrane thickening (76.8% vs 48.8%, p < 0.004), subepithelial edema (19.6% vs 2.3%, p < 0.01), fibrosis (58.9% vs 27.9%, p < 0.002), hyperplastic/papillary changes (12.5% vs 0.0%, p < 0.016), eosinophilia (41.1% vs 18.6%, p < 0.047), and eosinophilic aggregates (30.4% vs 11.6%, p < 0.022). Higher LMS was associated with increased eosinophilia (p < 0.001), eosinophil aggregates (p < 0.000), inflammation (p < 0.023), basement membrane thickening (p < 0.037), hyperplastic/papillary changes (p < 0.040) and fibrosis (p < 0.000). SNOT‐22 scores were not associated with any histologic parameters.

Conclusion

Significant histopathologic differences were evident in patients with CRSwNP and CRSsNP. No single feature reliably differentiated between the 2 subtypes, underscoring the heterogeneity of CRS and limitation of this phenotypic classification system. Eosinophilic aggregates were associated with significantly worse disease, possibly signifying a unique subtype. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship of histopathologic features to disease outcome.
Optochemical Control of Biological Processes in Cells and Animals
Authors: Ankenbruck Nicholas , Courtney Taylor , Naro Yuta , Deiters Alexander
Published: May 2017

Biological processes are naturally regulated with high spatial and temporal control, as is perhaps most evident in metazoan embryogenesis. Chemical tools have been extensively utilized in cell and developmental biology to investigate cellular processes, and conditional control methods have expanded applications of these technologies toward resolving complex biological questions. Light represents an excellent external trigger since it can be controlled with very high spatial and temporal precision. To this end, several optically regulated tools have been developed and applied to living systems. In this review we discuss recent developments of optochemical tools, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids that can be irreversibly or reversibly controlled through light irradiation, with a focus on applications in cells and animals.
A ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of cysteine in aqueous solution at neutral pH
Authors: Li Yuanyuan
Published: May 2017

A ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor 2‐(2′‐hydroxy‐3′‐formyl‐5′‐methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole (1) was developed for the detection of cysteine (Cys). In aqueous solution at neutral pH, 1 exhibited a ratiometric fluorescent response to Cys with a remarkable red‐to‐green shift in the emission wavelength. This fluorescence change was attributed to the cyclization reaction between the formyl group in 1 and the amino and sulfhydryl group in Cys in a stoichiometry of 1: 1 according to the proposed mechanism. At neutral pH, 1 displayed a significant fluorescence ratio signal enhancement with the addition of Cys. Furthermore, 1 showed good selectivity toward Cys. The detection limit and linear range were 5.6 and 0–100 μmol/L, respectively, which demonstrated that 1 could recognize relatively low concentrations of Cys and is a good candidate for applications in detecting Cys.
Safety, productivity and predicted contribution of a surgical task-sharing programme in Sierra Leone
Authors: Bolkan H A , van Duinen A , Waalewijn B , Elhassein M , Kamara T B , Deen G F , Bundu I , Ystgaard B , von Schreeb J , Wibe A
Published: May 2017

Background

Surgical task-sharing may be central to expanding the provision of surgical care in low-resource settings. The aims of this paper were to describe the set-up of a new surgical task-sharing training programme for associate clinicians and junior doctors in Sierra Leone, assess its productivity and safety, and estimate its future role in contributing to surgical volume.

Methods

This prospective observational study from a consortium of 16 hospitals evaluated crude in-hospital mortality over 5 years and productivity of operations performed during and after completion of a 3-year surgical training programme.

Results

Some 48 trainees and nine graduated surgical assistant community health officers (SACHOs) participated in 27 216 supervised operations between January 2011 and July 2016. During training, trainees attended a median of 822 operations. SACHOs performed a median of 173 operations annually. Caesarean section, hernia repair and laparotomy were the most common procedures during and after training. Crude in-hospital mortality rates after caesarean sections and laparotomies were 0·7 per cent (13 of 1915) and 4·3 per cent (7 of 164) respectively for operations performed by trainees, and 0·4 per cent (5 of 1169) and 8·0 per cent (11 of 137) for those carried out by SACHOs. Adjusted for patient sex, surgical procedure, urgency and hospital, mortality was lower for operations performed by trainees (OR 0·47, 95 per cent c.i. 0·32 to 0·71; P < 0·001) and SACHOs (OR 0·16, 0·07 to 0·41; P < 0·001) compared with those conducted by trainers and supervisors.

Conclusion

SACHOs rapidly and safely achieved substantial increases in surgical volume in Sierra Leone.
A focus on polarity: Investigating the role of orientation cues in mediating student performance on mRNA synthesis tasks in an introductory cell and molecular biology course
Authors: Olimpo Jeffrey T. , Quijas Daniel A. , Quintana Anita M.
Published: May 2017

The central dogma has served as a foundational model for information flow, exchange, and storage in the biological sciences for several decades. Despite its continued importance, however, recent research suggests that novices in the domain possess several misconceptions regarding the aforementioned processes, including those pertaining specifically to the formation of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) transcripts. In the present study, we sought to expand upon these observations through exploration of the influence of orientation cues on students' aptitude at synthesizing mRNAs from provided deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) template strands. Data indicated that participants (n = 45) were proficient at solving tasks of this nature when the DNA template strand and the mRNA molecule were represented in an antiparallel orientation. In contrast, participants' performance decreased significantly on items in which the mRNA was depicted in a parallel orientation relative to the DNA template strand. Furthermore, participants' Grade Point Average, self‐reported confidence in understanding the transcriptional process, and spatial ability were found to mediate their performance on the mRNA synthesis tasks. Collectively, these data reaffirm the need for future research and pedagogical interventions designed to enhance students' comprehension of the central dogma in a manner that makes transparent its relevance to real‐world scientific phenomena. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(6):501–508, 2017.
Hierarchical Porous Graphene/Ni Foam Composite with High Performances in Energy Storage Prepared by Flame Reduction of Graphene Oxide
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Xiaofeng , Han Shuang , Huang Ruling , Wang Qian‐Qian , Qu Jin , Yu Zhong‐Zhen
Published: May 2017

A highly conducting porous architecture with plenty of stable oxygen‐containing groups is designed to endow graphene electrodes with both high rate performance and high capacitance in energy storage. By exposing the graphene oxide/Ni foam composite to an epitaxial flame of a lighter for a few seconds, the resultant reduced graphene oxide/Ni foam (RGO/Ni foam) composite shows a three‐dimensional hierarchical porous structure with plenty of stable oxygen‐containing groups, owing to the expansion and moderate reduction of graphene oxide sheets inside the Ni foam. As a supercapacitor electrode, the porous RGO/Ni foam composite exhibits an exceptional specific capacitance of 407.2 F g−1 at 500 mA g−1. An enlarged operation voltage of 1.8 V is also realized when packaging the RGO/Ni foam composite into a symmetric two‐electrode cell configuration, exhibiting high energy density and power density. As an anode electrode in a lithium‐ion battery, the first discharge/charge capacities of the RGO/Ni foam composite are 2194/1372 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1. This work gives great inspiration for the large‐scale production of high‐performance graphene‐based electrodes for energy storage.