bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bayesian Forecasting of the Bridge Deflection Based on Constant Mean Discount Model
Authors: Chen Shuangrui , Yan Quansheng
Published: November 2015

Subject to various factors under loading, bridges appear to be discrete. Thus, it is unavoidable to take the practical
bridge into consideration with regard to the bridge deflection forecasting. Given this, the Bayesian dynamic forecasting
theory is introduced to forecast the bridge deflection. Since the bridge deflection can stay stable in a long term, create
constant mean discount Bayesian conditional equation and observational equation and deduce the Bayesian posterior
probability of the bridge deflection conditional parameters on the basis of the prior information of the parameters. With
recursive deduction, the conditional parameters keep updating as observational data are imported. The results of Bayesian
forecasting comprise values and confidence interval, which makes it more instructive. Finally, practical examples are
adopted to examine the superior performance of Bayesian dynamic forecasting theory.
Medico-legal expertise of pain in dental trauma
Authors: Selakovic Srecko , Mirkovic Sinisa , Bajkin Branislav , Sarcev Ivan , Tadic Ana , Selakovic Jovana
Published: November 2015

nema
Fever of unknown origin: Most frequent causes in adults patients
Authors: Popovska-Jovicic Biljana , Canovic Predrag , Gajovic Olgica , Rakovic Ivana , Mijailovic Zeljko
Published: November 2015

Background/Aim. The differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin (FUO)
includes more than 200 different diseases and conditions. The aim of this
study was to identify the most frequent causes of FUO among adult patients
according to gender and age. Methods. The study included 74 patients examined
from June 2010 to June 2013 at the Infectious Disease Clinic, Clinical Center
Kragujevac in Serbia, according to the defined criteria for FUO. The patients
were divided according to the diagnosis into four groups: infectious,
malignant, rheumatic and "other diseases". A cause of febricity could not be
estabilshed in a portion of subjects, and they comprised the group of
undiagnosed cases. Results. Infectious diseases were dominant in the study,
followed by rheumatic diseases, which were most frequently found in women and
the elderly. The diseases recognised as the most common causes of febricity
were subacute thyroiditis, subacute endocarditis, Still?s disease, rheumatic
polymyalgia with or without temporal arteritis, and cytomegalovirus
infection. In 44% of the patients, the final diagnosis was composed of only
six clinical entities. Conclusion. The importance of establishing the
diagnosis of rheumatic disease is especially emphasised, in line with other
authors? research indicating the number of these diseases is on the rise. The
diagnostic approach to FUO should always be directed to the known frequency
of diseases.
Diagnostic Impact of Peritoneal Fluid Cytology in the Setting of Pediatric Uterine Adnexal Biopsy or Resection
Authors: Vadva Zareen , Laufer Marc R. , Weldon Christopher B. , Frazier A. Lindsay , Vargas Sara O.
Published: November 2015

Peritoneal fluid sampling has been recommended during surgery to resect an ovarian or fallopian tube mass, particularly for its staging relevance in ovarian carcinoma. Guidelines specifically for children are not well established, partly because of incomplete knowledge of the test characteristics in this age group. We sought to determine whether peritoneal fluid cytology sampling aids in diagnosis or staging of pediatric uterine adnexal masses. Children who underwent adnexal mass biopsy or excision from 1993 to 2014 were identified via archival review. Accompanying peritoneal fluid (washings or ascites) was assessed to determine whether it provided information beyond that in the accompanying surgical pathology specimen. Of 656 patients who underwent adnexal mass resection, 350 had concurrent cytologic sampling of peritoneal fluid. Median age at surgery was 14 years. Adnexal mass histologic examination showed tumors with malignant potential in 54 (8%) patients. Malignancy was identified in 3 cytology specimens (2 dysgerminomas and 1 mixed germ cell tumor). By today's guidelines, the malignant cytology specimens would have upstaged 1 of the 3 patients, and her therapy may not have changed. Cytology findings did not refine the histologic diagnosis in any benign or malignant case. Our findings demonstrated a low rate of malignancy (<1%) in peritoneal washing/ascites samples accompanying resection of a pediatric adnexal mass. Influencing staging or treatment by cytology sampling was rare in our cohort. Our findings provided benchmark data in an area dominated by adult studies. Furthermore, they may guide recommendations for cytologic fluid collection and processing tailored for pediatric populations.
Tectorigenin inhibits Caco-2 human colon cells via NF-κB pathway suppression
Authors: Dai Xiao-Yu , Yu Yong-Ming , Kong Zheng-Fang , Cao Yi-Sheng , Huang Dan-Dan , Hu Xiao-Rong , Huang Zuo-An , Xie Yang-Yang , Zhang Shun
Published: November 2015

Effective immunomodulator and pro-inflammatory cytokine, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are considered to be responsible for connecting autoimmune pathological process and contagious diseases. TNF-α stimulates the C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) expression that is participated in migration of tumor, metastasis, and invasion. Tectorigenin, an o-methylated isoflavone, is present as a major portion in the Iris tectorum rhizomes. In this study, we investigated the tectorigenin effects as an anticancer drug. The obtained results showed that tectorigenin hinders the invasion of human colon cancer cells (Caco-2). We used reverse transcription PCR, q-PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays to test whether the tectorigenin is involved in the inhibition of TNF-α induced CXCL-10 expression in the Caco-2 cell lines. Further, we tested TNF-α induced NF-κB activity using the tectorigenin. Collective results showed that tectorigenin inhibits the CXCL10 production by using TNF-α via NF-κB inhibition.

 
Knowledge, Information, and Views of Climate Change: An Examination of Coastal Stakeholders along the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Stoutenborough James , Vedlitz Arnold
Published: November 2015

The ability to understand complex issues is essential to adequately evaluate risk and policy alternatives. Stakeholders are more likely to understand and influence these issues. While stakeholders that specialize in coastal regions have many issues that demand their attention, there are a few that potentially affect everyone within this community. We utilize in-depth interviews to examine climate change attitudes, and the influence of knowledge, information, and institutions within a sample of stakeholders along the Gulf Coast in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Our analysis is the first to reveal that institutional forces may influence climate change attitudes for members of that institution. Furthermore, we learn that different sources of information directly influence these attitudes.
Implementation of Single Phase Soft Switched PFC Converter for Plug-in-Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Sekar Aiswariya , Raghavan Dhanasekaran
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a new soft switching boost converter with a passive snubber cell without additional active switches for battery charging systems. The proposed snubber finds its application in the front-end ac-dc converter of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) battery chargers. The proposed auxiliary snubber circuit consists of an inductor, two capacitors and two diodes. The new converter has the advantages of continuous input current, low switching stresses, high voltage gain without extreme duty cycle, minimized charger size and charging time and fewer amounts of cost and electricity drawn from the utility at higher switching frequencies. The switch is made to turn ON by Zero Current Switching (ZCS) and turn OFF by Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS). The detailed steady state analysis of the novel ac-dc Zero Current- Zero Voltage Switching (ZC-ZVS) boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter is presented with its operating principle. The experimental prototype of 20 kHz, 100 W converter verifies the theoretical analysis. The power factor of the prototype circuit reaches near unity with an efficiency of 97%, at nominal output power for a ±10% variation in the input voltage and ±20% variation in the snubber component values.
Designing Strategies for Epidemic Control in a Tree Nursery: the Case of Ash Dieback in the UK
Authors: Chavez Vasthi , Parnell Stephen , Bosch Frank
Published: November 2015

Ash dieback is a fungal disease (causal agent Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) infecting Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) throughout temperate Europe. The disease was first discovered in the UK in 2012 in a nursery in Southern England, in plants which had been imported from the Netherlands. After sampling other recently planted sites across England, more infected trees were found. Tree trade from outside and across the UK may have facilitated the spread of invasive diseases which threaten the sustainability of forestry business, ecological niches and amenity landscapes. Detecting a disease in a nursery at an early stage and knowing how likely it is for the disease to have spread further in the plant trade network, can help control an epidemic. Here, we test two simple sampling rules that 1) inform monitoring strategies to detect a disease at an early stage, and 2) inform the decision of tracking forward the disease after its detection. We apply these expressions to the case of ash dieback in the UK and test them in different scenarios after disease introduction. Our results are useful to inform policy makers’ decisions on monitoring for the control and spread of tree diseases through the nursery trade.
Towards Automated Characterization of Canopy Layering in Mixed Temperate Forests Using Airborne Laser Scanning
Authors: Leiterer Reik , Torabzadeh Hossein , Furrer Reinhard , Schaepman Michael , Morsdorf Felix
Published: November 2015

Canopy layers form essential structural components, affecting stand productivity and wildlife habitats. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) provides horizontal and vertical information on canopy structure simultaneously. Existing approaches to assess canopy layering often require prior information about stand characteristics or rely on pre-defined height thresholds. We developed a multi-scale method using ALS data with point densities >10 pts/m2 to determine the number and vertical extent of canopy layers (canopylayer, canopylength), seasonal variations in the topmost canopy layer (canopytype), as well as small-scale heterogeneities in the canopy (canopyheterogeneity). We first tested and developed the method on a small forest patch (800 ha) and afterwards tested transferability and robustness of the method on a larger patch (180,000 ha). We validated the approach using an extensive set of ground data, achieving overall accuracies >77% for canopytype and canopyheterogeneity, and >62% for canopylayer and canopylength. We conclude that our method provides a robust characterization of canopy layering supporting automated canopy structure monitoring.
Phylogenetic Relationships among Species of Phellinus sensu stricto, Cause of White Trunk Rot of Hardwoods, from Northern North America
Authors: Brazee Nicholas
Published: November 2015

Species in Phellinus s.s. are some of the most important wood-decaying fungal pathogens in northern temperate forests, yet data on species incidence in North America remains limited. Therefore, phylogenetic analyses were performed using four loci (ITS, nLSU, tef1 and rpb2) with isolates representing 13 species. Results of phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed that eight species of Phellinus s.s. occur in North America, and include: P. alni, P. arctostaphyli, P. betulinus, P. lundellii, P. nigricans, P. tremulae and two undescribed species, P. NA1 and P. NA2. Meanwhile, P. tuberculosus, P. igniarius s.s., P. populicola, P. laevigatus s.s. and P. orienticus were not detected and appear restricted to Europe and/or Asia. The tef1 dataset outperformed all other loci used and was able to discriminate among all 13 of the currently known Phellinus s.s. species with significant statistical support. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region performed well but a high level of intraspecific variation could lead to inflated taxa recognition. Phellinus alni exhibited the broadest host range, as demonstrated previously, and appears to be the most common species in northern hardwood (Acer-Betula-Fagus), northern floodplain (Fraxinus-Populus-Ulmus) and coastal alder (Alnus) forests of North America.
Differentially-Expressed Genes Associated with Faster Growth of the Pacific Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai
Authors: Choi Mi-Jin , Kim Gun-Do , Kim Jong-Myoung , Lim Han
Published: November 2015

The Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai is used for commercial aquaculture in Korea. We examined the transcriptome of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai siblings using NGS technology to identify genes associated with high growth rates. Pacific abalones grown for 200 days post-fertilization were divided into small-, medium-, and large-size groups with mean weights of 0.26 ± 0.09 g, 1.43 ± 0.405 g, and 5.24 ± 1.09 g, respectively. RNA isolated from the soft tissues of each group was subjected to RNA sequencing. Approximately 1%–3% of the transcripts were differentially expressed in abalones, depending on the growth rate. RT-PCR was carried out on thirty four genes selected to confirm the relative differences in expression detected by RNA sequencing. Six differentially-expressed genes were identified as associated with faster growth of the Pacific abalone. These include five up-regulated genes (including one specific to females) encoding transcripts homologous to incilarin A, perlucin, transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein immunoglobulin-heavy chain 3 (ig-h3), vitelline envelope zona pellucida domain 4, and defensin, and one down-regulated gene encoding tomoregulin in large abalones. Most of the transcripts were expressed predominantly in the hepatopancreas. The genes identified in this study will lead to development of markers for identification of high-growth-rate abalones and female abalones.
DNA Repair—A Double-Edged Sword in the Genomic Stability of Cancer Cells—The Case of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Pawlowska Elzbieta , Blasiak Janusz
Published: November 2015

Genomic instability is a common feature of cancer cells, which can result from aberrant DNA damage reaction (DDR). We and others showed that the well-known BCR-ABL1 fusion oncogene, the cause of chronic myeloid leukemia, induced an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and conferred therapeutic drug resistance by suppression of apoptotic signaling, prolonged G2/M arrest and stimulation of several pathways of DNA repair. However, to protect from apoptosis, cancer cells may tolerate some DNA lesions, which may increase genomic instability. Moreover, BCR/ABL1-stimulated DNA repair might be faulty, especially non-homologous end joining in its alternative forms. Normal DNA repair can remove DNA damage and prevent mutations, reducing genome instability, but on the other hand, due to its imprecise nature, it may increase genomic instability by increasing the ratio of mutagenic DNA lesions. The example of BCR-ABL1-expressing cells shows that DNA repair can both increase and decrease genomic instability of cancer cells and understanding the mechanism of the regulation of these opposite effects would be helpful in anticancer strategies.
Borneol Depresses P-Glycoprotein Function by a NF-κB Signaling Mediated Mechanism in a Blood Brain Barrier in Vitro Model
Authors: Fan Xiang , Chai Lijuan , Zhang Han , Wang Yuefei , Zhang Boli , Gao Xiumei
Published: November 2015

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) that form the blood brain barrier (BBB), influences transportation of substances between blood and brain. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of borneol on P-gp efflux function on BBB and explore the potential mechanisms. We established an in vitro BBB model comprised of rat BMECs and astrocytes to measure the effects of borneol on the known P-gp substrates transport across BBB, and examined the function and expression of P-gp in BMECs and the signaling pathways regulating P-gp expression. Borneol increased intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123, enhanced verapamil and digoxin across the BBB in vitro model, and depressed mdr1a mRNA and P-gp expression. Borneol could activate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inhibition of NF-κB with MG132 (carbobenzoxy-Leu-Leu-leucinal) and SN50 (an inhibitory peptide) obscuring the P-gp decreases induced by borneol. These data suggested that borneol depresses P-gp function in BMECs by a NF-κB signaling medicated mechanism in a BBB in vitro model.
“Nothing Is Like It Was Before”: The Dynamics between Land-Use and Land-Cover, and Livelihood Strategies in the Northern Vietnam Borderlands
Authors: Turner Sarah , Pham Thi-Thanh-Hiên
Published: November 2015

Land uses are changing rapidly in Vietnam’s upland northern borderlands. Regional development platforms such as the Greater Mekong Subregion, state-propelled market integration and reforestation programs, and lowland entrepreneurs and migrants are all impacting this frontier landscape. Drawing on a mixed methods approach using remote sensing data from 2000 to 2009 and ethnographic fieldwork, we examine how land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) has occurred across three borderland provinces—Lai Châu, Lào Cai and Hà Giang—with high proportions of ethnic minority semi-subsistence farmers. After a broad examination of regional land-use changes, we select three case studies to further analyze the underlying relationships between specific LULCC and local livelihood diversification strategies. These include specific patterns of urban growth due to a range of political decisions in Lai Châu and Lào Cai Provinces; reforestation due to non-timber forest (NTFP) product cultivation in the west of Lào Cai Province; and a stable landscape that restricts government attempts at refashioning upland livelihoods in the east of Hà Giang. Our findings point to the difficulties of completing LULCC maps for this highly heterogeneous region and the complexity of LULCC and livelihood interactions and relationships examined on the ground.
Preparation and Preliminary Dielectric Characterization of Structured C60-Thiol-Ene Polymer Nanocomposites Assembled Using the Thiol-Ene Click Reaction
Authors: Ahmed Hanaa , Windham Amber , Al-Ejji Maryam , Al-Qahtani Noora , Hassan Mohammad , Mauritz Kenneth , Buchanan Randy , Buchanan J.
Published: November 2015

Fullerene-containing materials have the ability to store and release electrical energy. Therefore, fullerenes may ultimately find use in high-voltage equipment devices or as super capacitors for high electric energy storage due to this ease of manipulating their excellent dielectric properties and their high volume resistivity. A series of structured fullerene (C60) polymer nanocomposites were assembled using the thiol-ene click reaction, between alkyl thiols and allyl functionalized C60 derivatives. The resulting high-density C60-urethane-thiol-ene (C60-Thiol-Ene) networks possessed excellent mechanical properties. These novel networks were characterized using standard techniques, including infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The dielectric spectra for the prepared samples were determined over a broad frequency range at room temperature using a broadband dielectric spectrometer and a semiconductor characterization system. The changes in thermo-mechanical and electrical properties of these novel fullerene-thiol-ene composite films were measured as a function of the C60 content, and samples characterized by high dielectric permittivity and low dielectric loss were produced. In this process, variations in chemical composition of the networks were correlated to performance characteristics.
A New Analogue of Echinomycin and a New Cyclic Dipeptide from a Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. LS298
Authors: Zhen Xin , Gong Ting , Liu Fu , Zhang Pei-Cheng , Zhou Wan-Qi , Li Yan , Zhu Ping
Published: November 2015

Quinomycin G (1), a new analogue of echinomycin, together with a new cyclic dipeptide, cyclo-(l-Pro-4-OH-l-Leu) (2), as well as three known antibiotic compounds tirandamycin A (3), tirandamycin B (4) and staurosporine (5), were isolated from Streptomyces sp. LS298 obtained from a marine sponge Gelliodes carnosa. The planar and absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were established by MS, NMR spectral data analysis and Marfey’s method. Furthermore, the differences in NMR data of keto-enol tautomers in tirandamycins were discussed for the first time. Antibacterial and anti-tumor activities of compound 1 were measured against 15 drug-sensitive/resistant strains and 12 tumor cell lines. Compound 1 exhibited moderate antibacterial activities against Staphylococcuse pidermidis, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and E. faecalis with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 16 to 64 μg/mL. Moreover, it displayed remarkable anti-tumor activities; the highest activity was observed against the Jurkat cell line (human T-cell leukemia) with an IC50 value of 0.414 μM.
Chemical Composition and in-Vitro Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils Extracted from Seven Eucalyptus Species
Authors: Ghaffar Abdul , Yameen Muhammad , Kiran Shumaila , Kamal Shagufta , Jalal Fatima , Munir Bushra , Saleem Sadaf , Rafiq Naila , Ahmad Aftab , Saba Iram , Jabbar Abdul
Published: November 2015

Eucalyptus is well reputed for its use as medicinal plant around the globe. The present study was planned to evaluate chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from seven Eucalyptus species frequently found in South East Asia (Pakistan). EOs from Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus microtheca were extracted from leaves through hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the EOs was determined through GC-MS-FID analysis. The study revealed presence of 31 compounds in E. citriodora and E. melanophloia, 27 compounds in E. crebra, 24 compounds in E. tereticornis, 10 compounds in E. globulus, 13 compounds in E. camaldulensis and 12 compounds in E. microtheca. 1,8-Cineole (56.5%), α-pinene (31.4%), citrinyl acetate (13.3%), eugenol (11.8%) and terpenene-4-ol (10.2%) were the highest principal components in these EOs. E. citriodora exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against the five microbial species tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus solani). Gram positive bacteria were found more sensitive than Gram negative bacteria to all EOs. The diphenyl-1-picrylhydazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and percentage inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation were highest in E. citriodora (82.1% and 83.8%, respectively) followed by E. camaldulensis (81.9% and 83.3%, respectively). The great variation in chemical composition of EOs from Eucalyptus, highlight its potential for medicinal and nutraceutical applications.
Variation in Phenolics, Flavanoids, Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Peach Blossoms at Different Developmental Stages
Authors: Liu Jie-Chao , Jiao Zhong-Gao , Yang Wen-Bo , Zhang Chun-Ling , Liu Hui , Lv Zhen-Zhen
Published: November 2015

Peach blossoms were harvested and classified into six developmental stages: (I) bud emerging stage; (II) middle bud stage; (III) large bud stage; (IV) initial-flowering stage; (V) full-flowering stage; and (VI) end-flowering stage. The contents of total phenolics, flavanoids, individual phenolic compounds as well as antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of peach blossoms at different developmental stages were investigated. The total phenolic contents varied from 149.80 to 74.80 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW), and the total flavanoid contents ranged from 93.03 to 44.06 mg rutin equivalents/g DW. Both the contents of total phenolics and flavanoids decreased during blossom development. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant component, accounting for 62.08%–71.09% of the total amount of identified phenolic compounds in peach blossom. The antioxidant capacities determined by different assays and tyrosinase inhibitory activity also showed descending patterns during blossom development. Significant correlations were observed between antioxidant capacities with contents of total phenolics and total flavanoids as well as chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid and kaempferol-3-O-galactoside, while the tyrosinase inhibitory activity had lower correlations with total phenolics and total flavanoids as well as chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-galactoside and cinnamic acid. The antioxidant activities of peach blossom seemed to be more dependent on the phenolic compounds than tyrosinase inhibitory activity.
Relationship between Structure and Conformational Change of the Vitamin D Receptor Ligand Binding Domain in 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Signaling
Authors: Wan Lin-Yan , Zhang Yan-Qiong , Chen Meng-Di , Du You-Qin , Liu Chang-Bai , Wu Jiang-Feng
Published: November 2015

Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily. Whereas the structure of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of VDR has been determined in great detail, the role of its amino acid residues in stabilizing the structure and ligand triggering conformational change is still under debate. There are 13 α-helices and one β-sheet in the VDR LBD and they form a three-layer sandwich structure stabilized by 10 residues. Thirty-six amino acid residues line the ligand binding pocket (LBP) and six of these residues have hydrogen-bonds linking with the ligand. In 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 signaling, H3 and H12 play an important role in the course of conformational change resulting in the provision of interfaces for dimerization, coactivator (CoA), corepressor (CoR), and hTAFII 28. In this paper we provide a detailed description of the amino acid residues stabilizing the structure and taking part in conformational change of VDR LBD according to functional domains.
Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Cynara cardunculus L. Water Infusions: Phenolic Profile and Comparison of Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Kuczmannová Anika , Gál Peter , Varinská Lenka , Treml Jakub , Kováč Ivan , Novotný Martin , Vasilenko Tomáš , Dall’Acqua Stefano , Nagy Milan , Mučaji Pavel
Published: November 2015

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly considered in the ethiopathogenesis of different pathological conditions because they may cause significant damage to cells and tissues. In this paper, we focused on potential antioxidant properties of two medical plants such as the Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Cynara cardunculus L. Both plants have previously been studied for their pharmacological activities, especially as hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities. It has been suggested, that their effects are related to the antioxidant properties of polyphenols, which are dominant compounds of the plants’ extracts. In the present study HPLC-MS analysis of water infusion was performed allowing the identification of several phenolic constituents. Furthermore, antioxidant effects of the two extracts were compared showing higher effects for agrimony extract compared to artichoke. Thus, agrimony was selected for the in vivo study using the skin flap viability model. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the A. eupatoria extract may be a valuable source of polyphenols to be studied for the future development of supplements useful in the prevention of diseases linked to oxidative stress.
Dietary Intake according to Gender and Education: A Twenty-Year Trend in a Swiss Adult Population
Authors: Marques-Vidal Pedro , Rousi Eirini , Paccaud Fred , Gaspoz Jean-Michel , Theler Jean-Marc , Bochud Murielle , Stringhini Silvia , Guessous Idris
Published: November 2015

We assessed trends in dietary intake according to gender and education using repeated cross-sectional, population-based surveys conducted between 1993 and 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland (17,263 participants, 52.0 ± 10.6 years, 48% male). In 1993–1999, higher educated men had higher monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), carotene and vitamin D intakes than lower educated men, and the differences decreased in 2006–2012. In 1993–1999, higher educated women had higher fiber, iron, carotene, vitamin D and alcohol intakes than lower educated women, and the differences decreased in 2006–2012. Total energy, polyunsaturated fatty acids, retinol and alcohol intakes decreased, while mono/disaccharides, MUFA and carotene intake increased in both genders. Lower educated men had stronger decreases in saturated fatty acid (SFA) and calcium intakes than higher educated men: multivariate-adjusted slope and 95% confidence interval −0.11 (−0.15; −0.06) vs. −0.03 (−0.08; 0.02) g/day/year for SFA and −5.2 (−7.8; −2.7) vs. −1.03 (−3.8; 1.8) mg/day/year for calcium, p for interaction <0.05. Higher educated women had a greater decrease in iron intake than lower educated women: −0.03 (−0.04; −0.02) vs. −0.01 (−0.02; 0.00) mg/day/year, p for interaction = 0.002. We conclude that, in Switzerland, dietary intake evolved similarly between 1993 and 2012 in both educational groups. Educational differences present in 1993 persisted in 2012.
Considering Non-Open Access Publication Charges in the “Total Cost of Publication”
Authors: Gray Andrew
Published: November 2015

Recent research has tried to calculate the “total cost of publication” in the British academic sector, bringing together the costs of journal subscriptions, the article processing charges (APCs) paid to publish open-access content, and the indirect costs of handling open-access mandates. This study adds an estimate for the other publication charges (predominantly page and colour charges) currently paid by research institutions, a significant element which has been neglected by recent studies. When these charges are included in the calculation, the total cost to institutions as of 2013/14 is around 18.5% over and above the cost of journal subscriptions—11% from APCs, 5.5% from indirect costs, and 2% from other publication charges. For the British academic sector as a whole, this represents a total cost of publication around £213 million against a conservatively estimated journal spend of £180 million, with non-APC publication charges representing around £3.6 million. A case study is presented to show that these costs may be unexpectedly high for individual institutions, depending on disciplinary focus. The feasibility of collecting this data on a widespread basis is discussed, along with the possibility of using it to inform future subscription negotiations with publishers.
Changes in Growing Season Vegetation and Their Associated Driving Forces in China during 2001–2012
Authors: Liu Xianfeng , Zhu Xiufang , Li Shuangshuang , Liu Yanxu , Pan Yaozhong
Published: November 2015

In recent decades, the monitoring of vegetation dynamics has become crucial because of its important role in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, a satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was combined with climate factors to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change during the growing season, as well as their driving forces in China from 2001 to 2012. Our results showed that the growing season NDVI increased continuously during 2001–2012, with a linear trend of 1.4%/10 years (p < 0.01). The NDVI in north China mainly exhibited an increasing spatial trend, but this trend was generally decreasing in south China. The vegetation dynamics were mainly at a moderate intensity level in both the increasing and decreasing areas. The significantly increasing trend in the NDVI for arid and semi-arid areas of northwest China was attributed mainly to an increasing trend in the NDVI during the spring, whereas that for the north and northeast of China was due to an increasing trend in the NDVI during the summer and autumn. Different vegetation types exhibited great variation in their trends, where the grass-forb community had the highest linear trend of 2%/10 years (p < 0.05), followed by meadow, and needle-leaf forest with the lowest increasing trend, i.e., a linear trend of 0.3%/10 years. Our results also suggested that the cumulative precipitation during the growing season had a dominant effect on the vegetation dynamics compared with temperature for all six vegetation types. In addition, the response of different vegetation types to climate variability exhibited considerable differences. In terms of anthropological activity, our statistical analyses showed that there was a strong correlation between the cumulative afforestation area and NDVI during the study period, especially in a pilot region for ecological restoration, thereby suggesting the important role of ecological restoration programs in ecological recovery throughout China in the last decade.
Estimating Crop Albedo in the Application of a Physical Model Based on the Law of Energy Conservation and Spectral Invariants
Authors: Peng Jingjing , Fan Wenjie , Xu Xiru , Wang Lizhao , Liu Qinhuo , Li Jvcai , Zhao Peng
Published: November 2015

Albedo characterizes the radiometric interface of land surfaces, especially vegetation, and the atmosphere. Albedo is a critical input to many models, such as crop growth models, hydrological models and climate models. For the extensive attention to crop monitoring, a physical albedo model for crops is developed based on the law of energy conservation and spectral invariants, which is derived from a prior forest albedo model. The model inputs have been efficiently and physically parameterized, including the dependency of albedo on the solar zenith/azimuth angle, the fraction of diffuse skylight in the incident radiance, the canopy structure, the leaf reflectance/transmittance and the soil reflectance characteristics. Both the anisotropy of soil reflectance and the clumping effect of crop leaves at the canopy scale are considered, which contribute to the improvement of the model accuracy. The comparison between the model results and Monte Carlo simulation results indicates that the canopy albedo has high accuracy with an RMSE < 0.005. The validation using ground measurements has also demonstrated the reliability of the model and that it can reflect the interaction mechanism between radiation and the canopy-soil system.
Comparing Potential Unstable Sites and Stable Sites on Revegetated Cut-Slopes of Mountainous Terrain in Korea
Authors: Kil Sung-Ho , Lee Dong , Kim Ho , Kim Nam-Choon , Im Sangjun , Park Gwan-Soo
Published: November 2015

This study employs a diverse set of variables to explain slope stabilization on stable versus failure-prone revegetated cut-slopes in Korea. A field survey was conducted at potential unstable sites and stable sites using 23 variables. Through a non-parametric test of the field survey results, 15 variables were identified as primary determinants of slope failure. Of these variables, one described physical characteristics (elapsed year); four variables described vegetation properties (plant community, vegetation coverage rate, number of trees, and number of herbs); and 10 variables represented soil properties (porosity, soil hardness, water content, sand ratio and silt ratio of soil texture, tensile strength, permeability coefficient, soil depth, soil acidity, salt concentration, and organic matter). Slope angle, which was mainly considered in previous studies, of variables in physical characteristics was not statistically selected as one of the 15 variables because most of sites were located on steep slopes. The vegetation community, vegetation coverage, and number of trees influence slope stabilization. Vegetation coverage is highly correlated with other soil and vegetation variables, making it a major indicator of slope stabilization. All soil variables were related to slope failure such that subsequent slope failure was related to the method of slope revegetation rather than the environmental condition of the slope. Slope failure did not occur in revegetated slopes that matched the characteristics of the surrounding landscape and contained a large number of native trees. Most soil and vegetation variables showed differing values for whether a revegetated slope is potentially unstable or stable.
Big Data and Analytics in Healthcare
Authors: Gao G. , Koch S. , Tan S. S. -L.
Published: November 2015

This editorial is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on “Big Data and Analytics in Healthcare”.

The amount of data being generated in the healthcare industry is growing at a rapid rate. This has generated immense interest in leveraging the availability of healthcare data (and “big data”) to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. However, the nature of healthcare data, and especially big data, presents unique challenges in processing and analyzing big data in healthcare. This Focus Theme aims to disseminate some novel approaches to address these challenges. More specifically, approaches ranging from efficient methods of processing large clinical data to predictive models that could generate better predictions from healthcare data are presented.
« Vouloir de la politique »
Authors: Rivoal Isabelle
Published: November 2015

Comme dans l’ensemble du monde arabe, la jeunesse au Liban désigne une période de la vie située entre l’enfance et l’âge d’homme qu’inaugurent généralement le mariage, la naissance des enfants et l’ouverture de sa propre maison. Dans cette société marquée par le confessionnalisme, la jeunesse se singularise toutefois par sa très forte politisation. À partir d’une ethnographie de la socialisation partisane des jeunes druzes, l’article montre comment les jeunes se « détachent » de leur positionnement familial pour devenir « l’armée du président [Walid Joumblatt] ». Les jeunes s’investissent alors dans les camps de vacances, les instances universitaires, les réunions du parti pour « apprendre » la politique : cet apprentissage passe par la lecture des écrits de Kamal Joumblatt, les discussions politiques, l’implication dans les activités partisanes, la « surveillance » du territoire, la disponibilité pour rendre visible la présence du parti. Alors que la relation entre les chefs de famille et Walid Joumblatt, le seigneur (bek) de la Montagne, est extrêmement codifiée lors des visites traditionnelles, la relation entre Walid Joumblatt, en tant que président du PSP, et les jeunes est marquée par la familiarité et la complicité. Le leader politique est un « oncle maternel » qui inspire et qui guide les jeunes, prêts à mourir pour lui, tandis qu’il est prêt, de son côté, à mourir pour la « cause » qu’il représente.
Ni enfants, ni adultes
Authors: Champy Muriel
Published: November 2015

À partir d’une enquête menée au Burkina Faso auprès d’individus vivant dans la rue — qui s’autodésignent par le terme « bakoroman » —, cet article pose la question des statuts communément associés aux différents âges de la vie. En plus de partager un ensemble de pratiques et de modes de sociabilité, les bakoroman se présentent comme un groupe d’âge relativement homogène qui correspondrait à la période de transition entre l’enfance et l’âge adulte. Marqué par l’indétermination et l’inachèvement, cet âge recouvre à leurs yeux une capacité d’action distinctive que les bakoroman ont appris à exploiter. À l’encontre d’idées reçues et de perspectives surplombantes sur les catégories d’âge, cette ethnographie de la « jeunesse de rue » burkinabè explore la notion de liminarité appliquée à cet âge « entre-deux ». Ni enfance, ni âge adulte, la jeunesse est ici redéfinie comme une parenthèse, un « moment » de liberté et d’explorations situé entre l’insouciance de l’enfant et les responsabilités de l’adulte.
Le corps des shabâb
Authors: Poujeau Anna
Published: November 2015

En Syrie, la catégorie des shabâb (jeunes), particulièrement étendue et floue, désigne des hommes âgés d’environ 15 à 45 ans. Si ni l’âge calendaire (indiqué par la date de naissance), ni les rôles endossés au fil de l’existence par l’individu dans son groupe de parenté (époux, père, etc.) ne suffisent à qualifier le statut ou la position de shab (jeune), doit-on alors se demander en quoi consiste cette catégorie sociale, de nature temporelle, et quelle place occupent les shabâb dans le groupe qui par ailleurs les définit largement, soit en Syrie leur groupe d’appartenance religieuse ? Pour répondre à ces questions, cet article s’intéresse aux shabâb d’une communauté chrétienne grecque orthodoxe et catholique du quartier de Bâb Tûmâ de Damas et du village de Maclûlâ à partir de l’analyse comparée de deux rituels majeurs qui placent les shabâb au cœur de l’événement, en célébrant et en insistant sur deux traits qui les caractérisent : la jeunesse et la masculinité.
Jeunes hommes des classes populaires à Larache
Authors: Juntunen Marko
Published: November 2015

Cet article s’attache à comprendre la condition de « jeune » au Maroc, dans le contexte particulier des populations défavorisées. Âgés de 20 à 30 ans, les hommes sur lesquels porte l’étude sont qualifiés de « jeunes » parce qu’encore célibataires, sous-employés et vivant chez leurs parents. C’est leur propre point de vue sur leur « condition » qui est présenté dans ce texte. Ces jeunes hommes donnent un sens à leur situation en mobilisant les notions de duruf (les conditions) et de dabbar (se débrouiller) dans le contexte de la ville côtière de Larache, centre névralgique de la migration illégale vers l’Espagne. Cette tentation de l’aventure et ses dangers constituent en effet l’horizon ultime pour affirmer sa virilité et se construire, enfin, un futur (mustaqbal) qui permette de devenir un homme.
Lower and Middle Devonian trilobites of the Canadian arctic islands
Authors: Ormiston A R
Published: November 2015

Trilobite faunas of Lower Gedinnian, Emsian, Eifelian, and Givetian age are present in the Canadian arctic islands. Possibly but not demonstrably present are trilobites of Siegenian age. Trilobite assemblages show fauna] affinity with Europe and with the Uralian
province but also show a considerable degree of endemism, especially during the Givetian. Thirty-four species are described and assigned to nineteen genera. New taxa comprise two genera, Deltadechenella and Schizoproetoides; one subgenus, Pedinodechenella; twenty-three species; and one subspecies.
The following age assignments are proposed on the basis of trilobites described in this report: strata exposed at Washington Point, Baillie Hamilton Island, Lower Gedinnian; strata exposed at Drake Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Eifelian in part; Stuart Bay Formation, Emsian in part; Eids Formation,
Emsian; strata exposed on the largest of the Princess Royal Islands, Emsian and/ or Eifelian; Blue Fiord Formation, Eifelian; and Bird Fiord Formation, Givetian, locally Eifelian in the basal part. During Eifelian time the Canadian Arctic was apparentl y part of a "Uralian" province distinguished by
the absence of representatives of the Phacopina, the presence of Weberopeltis, and possibly also by a proliferation of Dechenella (Dechenella). Longiproetus is suggested as possibly ancestral to the Dechenellinae and the phylogeny of the subfamily is considered in detail.
Geochemical and indicator mineral data for stream sediments and waters around the Sisson Sn-W-Mo deposit, New Brunswick (NTS 21-J/06, 21-J/07)
Authors: McClenaghan M B , Parkhill M A , Pronk A G , McCurdy M W , Boldon G
R , Leybourne M I , Pyne R
M , Rice J M
Published: November 2015

Stream sediment and water samples were collected around the Sisson W-Mo deposit as part of the Geological Survey of Canada's (GSC) Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4 (TGI-4). The TGI-4 Program is a collaborative federal geoscience program with a mandate to provide
industry with the next generation of geoscience knowledge and innovative techniques that will result in more effective targeting of buried mineral deposits. The stream sampling is part of an indicator mineral case study around the Sisson deposit to document indicator mineral signatures of the
deposit in bedrock as well as surficial media (till and stream sediments). Stream sediments have been eroded from till, not from the Sisson deposit, thus patterns in stream sediments reported here reflect both glacial transport and fluvial transport. Indicator elements of the deposit in the
<0.1 77 mm fraction of stream sediment are the main ore elements W and Mo and pathfinder elements include As, Bi, Ag, Cu, Zn, In, Tl, and Cd. A total analysis method (INAA) is required to determine the total concentration of W and Mo in stream sediments. Aqua regia/ICPMS is a suitable
method for determining the content of the other pathfinder elements. Indicator/pathfinder elements in stream waters include As, Cd, Cu, Cs, W, and Zn. Indicator minerals of the deposit in the <2.0 mm heavy mineral fraction of stream sediments are the main ore minerals scheelite,
wolframite, and molybdenite as well as other minerals including chalcopyrite, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and pyrite. Fluvial dispersal of scheelite and wolframite from the deposit is detectable in stream sediments at least 4 km downstream from the north end of the deposit and 5 km southeast of the
deposit in streams that drain the southeast-trending glacial dispersal train. Additional stream sediment sampling would be required to fully document the nature of dispersal of scheelite downstream from the deposit. Molybdenite is not a useful indicator mineral in stream sediments around the Sisson
deposit because it is too soft to survive glacial and subsequent fluvial transport. A 2 km (4 km2) spacing of stream sediment samples is recommended to detect the W dispersal train from the Sisson deposit or similar styles of W-Mo mineralization.
Use of laboratory test results in patient management by clinicians in Malawi
Authors: Moyo Kundai , Porter Carol , Chilima Ben , Mwenda Reuben , Kabue Mark , Zungu Lutho , Sarr Abdoulaye
Published: November 2015

Background: Malawi has a high burden of infectious disease. The expansion of programmes targeting these diseases requires a strong laboratory infrastructure to support both diagnosis and treatment.Objectives: To assess the use of laboratory test results in patient management and to determine the requirements for improving laboratory services.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 to survey practising clinicians.Two hospitals were purposively selected for observations of clinicians ordering laboratory tests. Twelve management-level key informants were interviewed. Descriptive statistics were conducted.Results: A total of 242 clinicians were identified and 216 (89%) were interviewed. Of these, 189 (87%) reported doubting laboratory test results at some point. Clinicians most often doubted the quality of haematology (67%), followed by malaria (53%) and CD4 (22%) test results. A total of 151 (70%) clinicians reported using laboratory tests results in patient management. Use of laboratory test results at all times in patient management varied by the type of health facility (P < 0.001). Ninety-one percent of clinicians reported that laboratories required infrastructure improvement. During 97 observations of clinicians’ use of laboratory test results, 80 tests were ordered, and 73 (91%) of these were used in patient management. Key informants reported that the quality of laboratory services was good and useful, but that services were often unavailable.Conclusion: Gaps in the public laboratory system were evident. Key recommendations to enhance the use of laboratory test results in patient management were to strengthen the supply chain, reduce turn-around times, improve the test menu and improve the laboratory infrastructure.