bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naturalisations : deuil et violence coloniale
Authors: Chaffel Boris
Published: March 2017

Ce texte, en problématisant l’usage du terme de « naturalisation » dans le roman de Yoko Ogawa, L’annulaire , depuis son interprétation littérale par Jean Allouch, met en évidence que la polysémie des usages de « naturalisation », en français, fait symptôme, en nouant bizarrement l’opération du deuil et la violence coloniale. Le récit d’Éric Vuillard, Tristesse de la terre , qui explore la colonisation depuis le Wild West Show de Buffalo Bill et la naissance du spectacle de masse aux États-Unis, permet une interprétation de ce symptôme, en dégageant une hantise, coextensive d’une violence archivale. En creux, la fonction de l’archive – ou de son impossibilité – dans le deuil, qui convoque deux modalités de la naturalisation. On opposera ainsi, d’une part, une naturalisation-extorsion dans la violence coloniale, qui tient à une extorsion de l’objet d’amour au service d’un Récit instituant la transparence persécutrice du tout-Autre, privant l’endeuillé a priori de la possibilité du deuil ; d’autre part, la naturalisation comme produit de l’opération dégagée par la lecture de L’annulaire proposée par Jean Allouch, qui trouve un écho dans le final du livre d’Éric Vuillard. Ce tressage rencontre la voie ouverte par certains auteurs postcoloniaux, qui promeuvent l’opacité comme lieu de subjectivation de la violence du si transparent Récit colonial.
Applications of Polymeric Micro- and Nano-Particles in Dentistry
Authors: Priyadarshini Balasankar Meera , Dubey Nileshkumar
Published: March 2017

The use of micro- and nanoparticles is rapidly advancing and has been most commonly used in medical and biological research that offers an encouraging scope in broad range of disciplines. Manipulation of the biomaterials to their micro- and nano-scale renders their properties and behavior different from that of the same material in the mass scale and make them more reactive than large particles. The removal of tooth structure and its restoration with synthetic material to solve the problems caused by dental caries, trauma and fracture is a practice nearly as old as dentistry. Efforts are made to create micro- and nanomaterials that can revolutionize these ancestral therapies and dental procedures. The use of these materials had shown some promising applications in caries control, endodontic therapy, regenerative dentistry, periodontology and oral biofilm management. This review aims to discuss the recent advances and future potential of polymer-based micro- and nanoparticles in dentistry.
Using Online Social Networks for Increasing Health Literacy on Oral Health
Authors: Ahmed Ziauddin , Sarbadhikari Suptendra Nath , Nesha Karimon , Haque Karishma Sharmin , Khanom Khurshida , Ahmed Kazi Rumana
Published: March 2017

A descriptive study was conducted among the members of Oral Health group on a social media network (Facebook) through the Internet. The objective of this study was to explore online interactions on oral health among the Internet users. The study was divided into two parts. First part included content analysis of Oral Health group interactions during the period of July 2011 to April 2012 and second part included online survey findings. All the postings and their discussions in “Oral Health” group were collected and analyzed by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Total 427 group members were included, 65.84% members were recruited by administrator (admin) and 34.16% by other members of Oral Health group. Among the group members 110 (23%) members were actively participating in group interactions. A total 384 interactive messages were exchanged between the members on 194 discrete topics were discussed (in average 2 messages exchanged per topic). The flow of group interactions mostly occurred between dental professional to dental professional 78%, followed by general to general 3%, dental professional to general 9%, general to dental professional 10%. Opinion of survey respondents about the oral health group online interactions were found as appreciative (52%), “modern technology of learning is useful”(34%), “improves clinical knowledge of professionals”(26%), “improves oral hygiene knowledge and practice”(22%), and “helps to solve oral health problems”(38%). Online oral health group appears to be an effective platform for sharing information, experiences and advice on oral health among the Internet users.
Transcontinental Strategies and Strategic Choices
Authors: Aboutalebi Reza , Tan Hui , Lobo Reshma Trupti
Published: March 2017

This paper searches for a possible Asian way for internationalization and the theoretical bases behind these transcontinental strategies and strategic choices. In particular, this paper explores the dominant modes of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) employed by Indian enterprises in the UK. It also assesses their competitive advantages in various industries, and the link between strategic aspirations and post-entry performance. This study employs a mixed methodology using a combination of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews for data collection from 124 companies. Mergers and acquisitions are revealed to be the preferred mode of entry into the UK. However, the study found that not all theoretical predictions are supported. Although from a financial point of view India's OFDI in the UK is not fully justifiable, from a strategic development aspect, it has satisfied the investors.
International Soft Landings of Wetland Entrepreneurship in Asia
Authors: Chen Ye-Sho
Published: March 2017

International soft landings, originally developed by the International Business Innovation Association, is a process to help a company from one country land softly – without crashing – into the market of another country through a designated incubator. In this chapter, we discuss how wetland entrepreneurship, developed in Louisiana to maintain healthy wetland ecology and protect land losses, can be introduced in Asia through international soft landings. Specifically, we propose a “Flying High, Landing Soft” platform to help cultivate wetland entrepreneurs and bring local solutions in Louisiana abroad for global impact in Asia. This platform is grounded in the theories of strategic entrepreneurship and docility-based distributed cognition. With rising seas as a global phenomenon, developing such a platform is timely and significant.
Law and Neuroeconomics of Credit Default and Lender Protection
Authors: Das Rituparna
Published: March 2017

Recently India and Uruguay signed agreements on investment activities in mining etc. In the context of foreign investments banks play essential roles of participating and facilitating through, inter alia, lending. Hence there is a need for comparison between these countries regarding protection of lenders by the legal systems and confidence of the lenders on the legal systems. This chapter devoted to modelling of the impact of credit-default events on the banking industries and the society. Between the countries this chapter compares the scopes for litigation, negotiation and bribery between lenders and borrowers in the events of loan-default and the comparative speeds of improvement or deterioration of perceived protection of lender out of changes in existing laws, court verdicts and recovery of bad loans in these countries.
Evolution of Cloud in Big Data With Hadoop on Docker Platform
Authors: Gupta Meenu , Singla Neha
Published: March 2017

Data can be anything but from a large data base extraction of useful information is known as data mining. Cloud computing is a term which represent a collection of huge amount of data. Cloud computing can be correlated with data mining and Big Data Hadoop. Big data is high volume, high velocity, and/or high variety information asset that require new form of processing to enable enhanced decision making, insight discovery and process optimization. Data growth, speed and complexity are being accompanied by deployment of smart sensors and devices that transmit data commonly called the Internet of Things, multimedia and by other sources of semi-structured and structured data. Big Data is defined as the core element of nearly every digital transformation today.
Privacy Preserving Data Mining on Unstructured Data
Authors: Kenekar Trupti Vishwambhar , Dani Ajay R.
Published: March 2017

As Big Data is group of structured, unstructured and semi-structure data collected from various sources, it is important to mine and provide privacy to individual data. Differential Privacy is one the best measure which provides strong privacy guarantee. The chapter proposed differentially private frequent item set mining using map reduce requires less time for privately mining large dataset. The chapter discussed problem of preserving data privacy, different challenges to preserving data privacy in big data environment, Data privacy techniques and their applications to unstructured data. The analyses of experimental results on structured and unstructured data set are also presented.
Internet of Things in Real Life
Authors: Dabre Abhijeet Chandrakant , Mahamure Sandesh Shivaji , Wadibhasme Snehal Pandurang
Published: March 2017

This chapter specifically with Internet of Things (IoT), initially presents what exactly it is? It's just a smart route to improving daily life activities by connecting devices to widely used Internet. Then gradually put a view on history, which closely talked about traditional ways of communication mechanisms, moving forward it touches the current ideology of IoT. Further in this chapter authors discussed different aspects of IoT which was explained by different philosophers and it clears the idea of how to introduce, how to learn and how to launch IoT in different sectors (such as education, power generation, water management, road safety, automobiles etc). The practicality of the knowledge explains the usefulness of IoT and also explains how it impacts on the overall growth of the country and why every individual attracted towards this smart network of things. At the end, this chapter accomplished with the need of IoT in developing countries, how IoT provides efficient solutions to overcome upcoming challenges and finally briefs about why it is recommended.
Big Data Predictive Analysis for Detection of Prostate Cancer on Cloud-Based Platform
Authors: Gangwal Ritesh Anilkumar , Deshmukh Ratnadeep R. , Emmanuel M.
Published: March 2017

Big data as the name would refer to a subsequently large quantity of data which is being processed. With the advent of social media the data presently available is text, images, audio video. In order to process this data belonging to variety of format led to the concept of Big Data processing. To overcome these challenges of data, big data techniques evolved. Various tools are available for the big data naming MAP Reduce, etc. But to get the taste of Cloud based tool we would be working with the Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure is an integrated environment for the Big data analytics along with the SaaS Cloud platform. For the purpose of experiment, the Prostate cancer data is used to perform the predictive analysis for the Cancer growth in the gland. An experiment depending on the segmentation results of Prostate MRI scans is used for the predictive analytics using the SVM. Performance analysis with the ROC, Accuracy and Confusion matrix gives the resultant analysis with the visual artifacts. With the trained model, the proposed experiment can statistically predict the cancer growth.
Expansion of Uses and Applications of Virtual Reality
Authors: Gobira Pablo , Mozelli Antônio
Published: March 2017

The chapter shows the evolution of virtual reality interfaces and technologies to the current moment and verifies what led them to an alleged decline in early 1990. Due to the development of the industry of digital games, new forms of interaction have being researched and presented to the public. It will also be shown the application of virtual reality in different contexts of digital games, in addition to reporting a brief experience of the research group in art, science and technology, Lab|Front (Laboratório de Poéticas Fronteiriças - CNPq/UEMG).
An Intelligent Ecosystem to Support the Development of Communication Skills in Children with Autism
Authors: Robles-Bykbaev Vladimir , López-Nores Martín , Galán-Mena Jorge Andrés , Wong Verónica Cevallos León , Quisi-Peralta Diego , Lima-Juma Diego , Fernández Carlos Andrés Arévalo , Pazos-Arias José Juan
Published: March 2017

The term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) covers conditions such as autism, childhood disintegrative disorder and Asperger syndrome. In this line, the World Health Organization (WHO) points that core symptoms of ASD are: a mixture of impaired capacity for reciprocal socio-communicative interaction and a restricted, stereotyped repetitive repertoire of interests and activities. Therefore, it is fundamental for a person with ASD to develop skills to communicate with his/her peers, share ideas, and express feelings. On those grounds, this chapter presents an intelligent ecosystem to support the development of social communication skills in children with ASD. The ecosystem uses a knowledge model that relies on ontologies, and defines the main elements that will be used for psychological intervention process. The different activities that will be carried out during the therapeutic intervention can be done using a robotic assistant or a Multi-Sensory Stimulation Room. This proposal has been tested with 47 children of regular schools, 9 specialists on ASD, and 36 children with ASD.
Children Using Social Media to Connect with Others and With Consumer Brands
Authors: Jones Katharine , Glynn Mark S.
Published: March 2017

Children's use of social media affects their interactions with consumer brands. Because children's social media use is a part of people's increasing use of social platforms to communicate and share content with each other, it is important to understand how children are using such platforms as sources of market-related information. This is because children's socialisation as consumers depends upon their accessing a range of market-related information sources, and social media platforms are envisaged to facilitate such access. Children's interactions with consumer brands are governed by interaction processes, and such processes shape the relationships that children may form with brands. Understanding these interaction processes will provide insights for parents, educators, and business marketers seeking information as to how the next generation of consumers use social media for market-related activities.
EvalCOMIX®
Authors: Ibarra-Sáiz María Soledad , Rodríguez-Gómez Gregorio
Published: March 2017

The increasing use of technological tools to support the process of participation in assessment is explained, firstly, by the current tendencies in assessment and learning in Higher Education which encourage the active participation of students as a means to improve their learning; secondly, by the universal presence of technology that makes it impossible to conceive of any educational process that does not contemplate its use and that is leading to ever more courses that are either virtual or require minimal attendance; and, finally, an environment in which there are ever greater numbers of students per class. This chapter presents the results of using the web-based EvalCOMIX® programme in the context of a number of Higher Education training courses. Data has been collected through questionnaires and interviews applied to students, lecturers and academic coordinators. The results illustrate the ease of implementation of EvalCOMIX®, its usefulness in creating and sharing assessment instruments and the opportunity it provides to facilitate student participation in assessment.
Transformative Academic Development
Authors: Singh Kuki
Published: March 2017

In a dynamically changing higher education environment, a deep understanding and facilitation of relevant and flexible academic development is vitally important organisationally. A qualitative case study methodology was employed to analyse the organisational positioning and design of academic development as a means of gaining insights into the needs, challenges and evolutionary trends occurring at one university. A non-linear organisational-level data analysis based on triangulation from document study, direct observation, and experiential and reflective knowledge, provided theoretical and practical insights into how academic development is embodied institutionally. A design perspective revealed the characterisation of an expanded remit, as complex, contradictory and complementary. The study concluded that new configurations in the practice of academic development are convergent in nature, integrating a transformative agenda representational of professional learning trends globally. An important implication this study raises is the mounting influence the application of smart technologies can play in the area of training and development within business organisations.
Mobile Vision for Plant Biometric System
Authors: Prasad Shitala
Published: March 2017

In human's life plant plays an important part to balance the nature and supply food-&-medicine. The traditional manual plant species identification method is tedious and time-consuming process and requires expert knowledge. The rapid developments of mobile and ubiquitous computing make automated plant biometric system really feasible and accessible for anyone-anywhere-anytime. More and more research are ongoing to make it a more realistic tool for common man to access the agro-information by just a click. Based on this, the chapter highlights the significant growth of plant identification and leaf disease recognition over past few years. A wide range of research analysis is shown in this chapter in this context. Finally, the chapter showed the future scope and applications of AaaS and similar systems in agro-field.
Significance of Affective Sciences and Machine Intelligence to Decipher Complexity Rooting in Urban Sciences
Authors: Mukherjee Alok Bhushan , Krishna Akhouri Pramod , Patel Nilanchal
Published: March 2017

An urban system is a complex system. There are many factors which significantly influences the different aspects of it. The influencing factors possess different characteristics as they may be environmental, economical, socio-political or cognitive factors. It is not feasible to characterize an urban system with deterministic approach. Therefore there is a need of study on computational frameworks that can investigate cities from a system's perspective. This kind of study may help in devising different ways that can handle uncertainty and randomness of an urban system efficiently and effectively. Therefore the primary objective of this work is to highlight the significance of affective sciences in urban studies. In addition, how machine intelligence techniques can enable a system to control and monitor the randomness of a city is explained. Finally the utility of machine intelligence technique in deciphering the complexity of way finding is conceptually demonstrated.
Feature Selection Algorithms for Classification and Clustering
Authors: Tiwari Arvind Kumar
Published: March 2017

Feature selection is an important topic in data mining, especially for high dimensional dataset. Feature selection is a process commonly used in machine learning, wherein subsets of the features available from the data are selected for application of learning algorithm. The best subset contains the least number of dimensions that most contribute to accuracy. Feature selection methods can be decomposed into three main classes, one is filter method, another one is wrapper method and third one is embedded method. This chapter presents an empirical comparison of feature selection methods and its algorithm. In view of the substantial number of existing feature selection algorithms, the need arises to count on criteria that enable to adequately decide which algorithm to use in certain situation. This chapter reviews several fundamental algorithms found in the literature and assess their performance in a controlled scenario.
How Games Improve Language in People With Language Dysfunctions
Authors: Wahlstedt Robert
Published: March 2017

Many people as they age face a greater challenge of muscular dexterity around their facial muscles. This results in difficulty producing certain sounds, and sometimes the problem is so severe that they are unintelligible. People who could benefit from the methods in this chapter are those who are hard of hearing and do not have feedback readily accessible and people with ALS. This chapter describes a method that uses a computer learning algorithm that predicts what people are about to say based on earlier content and learns what the natural sound of their voice sounds like. This chapter illustrates speech trajectory and voice shaping. Clear Audio is a biologically inspired framework for studying natural language. Like the story behind Jurassic Park, Clear Audio attempts to make predictions about data from existing data, inspired by biological processes. Its main goal is to give feedback for speech pathology purposes.
Conclusion
Authors: Kumar Pradeep
Published: March 2017

This chapter summarize and concludes the issues and challenges elaborated in different chapters using machine learning approaches presented by various authors. It identifies the importance of supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms establishing classification, prediction, clustering, security policies along with object recognition and pattern matching structures. A systematic position for future research and practice is also described in detail. This book presents the capabilities of machine learning methods and ideas on how these methods could be used to solve real-world problems related to health, social and engineering applications.
An Optimal Dynamic Program of Talent Attraction and Development
Authors: Raies Asma
Published: March 2017

This chapter develops a dynamic model which studies the firm's optimal strategy of talent attraction and development. It shows that the firm should start out with a high talent acquisition rate and low training rate. As more and more high talented workers are hired, the firm becomes more competitive, its profit increases and it begins investing in research and worker training to improve more its productivity. By doing, the firm contributes to the pool of public knowledge. These inter temporal spillovers allow the firm's efficiency to grow in the steady state. This is reached when talent acquisition peters out and the firm settles into a stable situation where its average efficiency grows at a constant rate due to the training activity only. The comparative dynamics and numerical simulations sections show that attracting the most efficient talents, reducing the talent acquisition cost and encouraging researchers and trainers through increasing their wage, improve the firm's average efficiency growth in both short run and long run.
Identification and Measurement of Talent in Talent Management
Authors: Kumar Manoj
Published: March 2017

Research problem and short review: Furthermore, little attention has been paid so far to how specific talent definitions, operationalization, and measures are experienced by assessees. Methodology: This multidisciplinary review aims to contribute to the establishment of a stronger theoretical basis for talent-management by presenting a conceptual framework of talent in which the definition, operationalization and measurement of talent and its relation to excellent performance is clarified. Analysis: we strongly advise organizations to incorporate self-assessment tools in their talent-identification processes. Main results: We conclude that a valid assessment of talent requires striking a balance between organizational responsibility and self-responsibility. Main contributions of your research: We systematically introduce 11 propositions into the framework, building on fragmented insights from the literature, from the fields of HRM, gifted education, positive psychology, and vocational psychology respectively.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Measurement Procedures for Integrated Circuits-Integrated Circuit Emc Measurement Procedures-General and Definition
Authors:   Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Standards
Published: March 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice provides supporting information for the emission and immunity measurement procedures defined in SAE J1752.

The near field magnetic of electromagnetic radiation from an integrated circuit can be measured in a controlled manner that yields repeatable results. These emissions are related to the far field electromagnetic radiation potential of the IC and of the electronic module of which it is a part. The intent is to provide a quantitative measure of the RF emissions from ICs for comparison or other purposes. Similar quantitative measures of the immunity of an IC to RF fields and transients are being investigated.
BRAKING PERFORMANCE—RUBBER-TIRED, SELF-PROPELLED CRANES
Authors:   Cranes and Lifting Devices Committee
Published: March 2017

This SAE Standard applies to machines as defined in Appendix A. Some of these machines can travel on-highway, but function primarily off-highway.
CLAMPING FORCE TEST PROCEDURE
Authors:   Non-Hydraulic Hose Committee
Published: March 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice is a test procedure to obtain force data for self-compensating type clamps (SAE Type E, CTB, and CTW).
Air Starter Motor Test Procedure
Authors:   Electrical Systems
Published: March 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice provides a standard procedure for testing the output performance and plotting the performance curve of air starting motors.
Low-Temperature Cranking Load Requirements of an Engine—Air Starter Method
Authors:   Electrical Systems
Published: March 2017

The air cranking system components, which include the tank, valve, hose, and starter, must be carefully selected to provide the necessary speed to start an engine under the most severe climatic conditions for which the system is intended. Engine cranking loads increase with cold temperatures, therefore, the initial selection of these components, needs to consider low-temperature engine torque requirements. To insure an adequate air cranking system is obtained, it is important that proper test procedures are used for obtaining the cranking load requirements of the engine.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE TOOLING, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT LOW VOC WATERBORNE PAINT SYSTEMS
Authors:   USCAR
Published: March 2017

The materials defined by this U.S. CAR / S.A.E Recommended Practice are low VOC water based coatings for automotive tooling and general maintenance.
Consumption of Moringa oleifera flour and its effects on the biochemical profile and intestinal motility in an animal model
Authors: Guiguer Elen Landgraf , Barbalho Sandra Maria , Marinelli Paulo Sergio , Bueno Patricia Cincotto , Mendes Claudemir Gregorio , Santos Mirele Cristina , Salzedas Leticia Maria , Oshiiwa Marie , Mendes Manoel Lima , Nicolau Claudia Teixeira , Otoboni Alda Maria
Published: March 2017

Moringa oleifera (MO) belongs to the family Moringaceae and is native to tropical Africa. It exhibits many therapeutic properties and has been widely cultivated because of the high food value of the leaves, fruit, flowers and roasted seeds. It possesses high quality protein, calcium, iron, fiber, minerals and essential amino acids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of MO flour in anthropometric and biochemical profile of Wistar rats. Animals were divided randomly into the following groups (n=10): G1 (control group) and G2 (treated with MO flour mixed to the rat food) were both treated for 40 days and G3 (control group), G4 (treated with senne) and G5 (treated with MO flour) were studied to evaluate the intestinal motility. After 40 days, animals of G1 and G2 were euthanized and evaluation of glycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL-c, HDL-c, C reactive Protein (PCR), hepatic enzymes, Lee Index, weight and visceral fat were performed. Our results showed reduction of visceral fat, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, and VLDL-c and increase in the HDL-c levels. No significant differences were found in the body weight, glycaemia, hepatic enzymes and PCR. The MO flour also promoted laxative effects similar do senne. Our results with the use of Moringa oleifera flour are very promising, once its use improved lipid profile, prevented weight gain and showed no adverse effects. Thus we may conclude that this flour could be added to industrial products in order to provide healthier products to the consumers.

 
In-vitro scavenging activity and acute toxicity study of methanol leaves extract and fractions of Lophira lanceolata Tiegh. Ex Keay (Ochnaceae) in rats.
Authors: Oussou Jean-Baptiste N. , Asiedu-Gyekye Isaac J. , Yapo Adou F. , N'guessan Benoit Banga , Amoateng Patrick , Kouakou Leandre K , Asante Isaac K , Ehile Etienne E
Published: March 2017

The present study aims at comparing in-vitro scavenging activities of methanol extract and fractions of Lophira lanceolata leaves, and also to study the oral acute toxicity of the ethyl acetate fraction.

Petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions were prepared from the methanol extract of the plant. The scavenging activity of DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), the total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents of the extract and fractions were determined by spectrophotometrical methods using gallic acid (GA) and quercetin (Qu) as reference antioxidant. The fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50), fifty percent effective concentration (EC50) and the antiradical power (ARP) were determined for all extract and fractions. An acute toxicity study using a single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant was conducted in female Albino rats following the OECD (420) Guidelines. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Histopathological examinations of the heart, kidney and liver were performed.

The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of L. lanceolata had the highest free radical scavenging activity of DPPH (IC50=1,43; EC50= 0.07 and ARP = 14,28)  and also contain the highest amount of total phenols (14,4±0,02 mg of GA equivalent/g of plant fraction) and total flavonoids (93,3±0,04 mg of Qu equivalent/g of plant fraction) as compared to other fractions and ascorbic acid (IC50=5,82; EC50= 3.44; ARP=3,44). The hematological parameters and the lipid profile didn’t show any major change compared to the control group. However, a significant increase of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p<0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, p<0.001) showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of L. lanceolata leaves might not totally be safe for consumption, in the conditions of our experiment.
Cinnamic acid Supplementation Regulates the Production of Licochalcone A, Liquirtigenin and Licoisoflavone B in Glycyrrhiza glabra Callus Cultures.
Authors: Vijayalakshmi U. , Shourie Abhilasha
Published: March 2017

Glycyrrhiza glabra is an ancient herbal medicine rich in large number of secondary metabolites which attribute to its therapeutic properties. These metabolites are usually obtained from field grown plants and their yields vary greatly on the basis of environmental conditions. Plant tissue culture can thus be a preferred method for consistent production of such metabolites. This study dealt with the enhancement of flavonoids through precursor feeding in callus cultures of G. glabra and investigated the influence of cinnamic acid on phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and production of licochalcone A, liquirtigenin and licoisoflavone B. Unorganized callus cultures were established from young leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with NAA (1mg/l), BAP (0.5 mg/l) and various concentrations of cinnamic acid. Flavonoids were obtained from calli through solvent extraction and were identified and quantified through Gas-Chromatography Mass spectrometry. Cinnamic acid supplementation at appropriate concentrations (50mg/100ml for licochalcone A and liquirtigenin, and 125mg/100ml for licoisoflavone B) significantly increased their production to 1.28, 1.2 and 9.76 folds respectively. However, prolonged treatment of cinnamic acid at concentration beyond 50mg/100ml led to decrease in the production of liquirtigenin and licochalcone A , but caused fair increase in licoisoflavone B. Also cinnamic acid concentrations higher than 50mg/100ml reduced the activity of PAL enzyme due to its feedback inhibition, but at the same time might have modulated other intermediate enzymes of the pathway like chalcone isomerase favoring the formation of licoisoflavone B. Therefore, this study provides clear evidences of enzymatic regulation of phenylpropanoid pathway by cinnamic acid in G. glabra callus cultures.
Anti-diabetic effect of aqueous fruit extract of Borassus aethiopum (Mart.) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Larbie Christopher , Issaka Jeremiah , Tandoh Marina
Published: March 2017

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels and is among the top ten causes of death in the world. Borassus aethiopum Mart. (family Arecaceae) is a plant species of Borassus palm found widely across Africa. It serves an important source of food, providing edible fruits, and nuts, and also has a number of pharmacological uses that have been reported in some parts of the world.
Objective: The current study was aimed at assessing the phytochemical constituents as well as the antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic effect of fruit extract of B. aethiopum in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: The fruits extract was prepared (FEB) and phytochemical constituents evaluated using standard methods. The antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic properties in alloxanized rats assessed for 7 and 28 days. Normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated with FEB at doses of 100 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight. Observations on body weight, relative organ weight, haematological and biochemical parameters were measured in both acute and sub-chronic circumstances.
Results: The presence of tannins, saponins, glycosides, triterpenoids and alkaloids were detected. Fasting blood glucose was reduced significantly (p<0.05) in diabetic rats in acute study at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight and at 250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight in sub-chronic studies. WBC and PLT levels were significantly increased after treatment with 500 mg/kg body weight. Urea and ALT levels also reduced significantly in both acute and sub-chronic studies.
Conclusion: The aqueous fruit extract of B. aethiopum is antidiabetic. It was also found to be nephron- and hepato-protective as well as boosting the immunity of the animals.
Cognitive antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum)
Authors: Oluwafemi Ibukun Emmanuel , Beno Onunkwor Okechukwu , Akanji Babalola Oluwafemi , Oladipo Gideon Oludare , Martha Nlekerem Chidinma , Oluwafemi Durojaiye
Published: March 2017

Oxidative stress manifests an imbalance in the production and the detoxification of free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidative degradation of biomolecules like lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrate molecules, thereby compromising cell integrity and function and leading to health deterioration from a range of metabolic anomalies that cause diseases and ailments including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypertension, stroke and cancer. Both bitter leaf (VA) and Scent leaf (OG) have been medicinally useful in the cure of diseases in different cultures.The addition of scent leaf as additive in preparation of delicacies in Nigeria has prompted this study to determine the cognitive activities of both plants to repair the damages caused by high fat diet present, by evaluating the antidyslipidemic activitiesas well as their antioxidant potentials. The results obtained revealed that both plants have antioxidant abilities when subjected to standard antioxidant evaluations although VA was significantly higher (p˂0.05) when compared with OG, however the cognitive effects showed that the antioxidant potentials of VA was depressed on the addition of OG. The results obtained from the modulation of lipid in albino rats challenged with hyperlipidemia showed that both VA and OG have a positive effect to lower LDL-C, TAG, TCHOL and increase HDL-C thus potentiating their antidyslipidemic ability and protective role against dyslipidemic disorders. Similarly, the cognitive effect showed reduction in the activities of VA while the activity of OG was boosted. The high phospholipid contents of the selected tissues upon treatments with the leaf extracts also showed that both VA and OG can have ameliorating effects on coronary heart disease, inflammation or cancer by enhancing membrane integrity. It is noteworthy that both VA and OG have good potential in the ability to reverse induced dyslipidemia and in spontaneous cellular lipid, while the addition causes a reduction in the activities of VA.
Long-term monitoring of gully erosion in Udmurt Republic, Russia
Authors: Rysin Ivan , Grigoriev Ivan , Zaytseva Mariya , Golosov Valentin , Sharifullin Aidar
Published: March 2017

Abstract. This article presents results from the long term-monitoring of gully headcut retreat rates (GHRR) between 1959 and 2015 in different parts of the Udmurt Republic and is based on the use of historical aerial photographs and field observations (measuring the distance from the gully head to a fixed reference point) (Vanmaercke et al., 2016). It was determined that GHRR decreased from 2.4 to 0.3 m yr−1 during the 1959–1997 observation period and the 1998–2015 period, respectively. Measurements of GHRR were made once per year for most of the monitoring sites, and twice per year (after snow-melt in May, and after the rainy season, October–November) for gullies located in the eastern part of the study area that contain high proportions of arable land. 80 % of GHRR occurred during the snowmelt period (1978–1997), and decreased to 53 % since 1997. Spatial patterns of GHRR resulting from changing hydro-climatic factors for different regions of the Udmurt Republic, as a whole, were determined based on the analysis of long-term observations at 6 meteorological stations and 4 gauging stations. The main reason for decreasing GHRR appears to be due to reductions in winter frozen soil depth. The influence of stormwater runoff more clearly occurred within the east and north parts of the Vyatka-Kama interfluve, whereas higher correlations between GHRR and frozen soil depth were found for the western parts of the Republic. The most significant increases in GHRR appear to have occurred during the warm part of the year (June–July), after > 40 mm rainstorms.
Modelling suspended sediment distribution in the Selenga River Delta using LandSat data
Authors: Chalov Sergey R. , Bazilova Varvara O. , Tarasov Mikhail K.
Published: March 2017

Abstract. The Selenga River is the largest tributary of Baikal Lake and it's delta covers around 600 km2. Suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in the Selenga river delta were modelled based on LandSat images data. The seasonal variability in suspended sediment retention during the period 1989 to 2015 was calculated. The results suggest that sediment storage in the Selenga delta is observed during high discharges (> 1500 m3 s−1), whereas sediment export increases under lower flow conditions (< 1500 m3 s−1). The changes in seasonal SSC patterns are explained by wetland inundation during floods and channel erosion or Baikal wind surge during low flow periods.
Evaluation of soil erosion rates in the southern half of the Russian Plain: methodology and initial results
Authors: Golosov Valentin , Gusarov Artem , Litvin Leonid , Yermolaev Oleg , Chizhikova Nelly , Safina Guzel , Kiryukhina Zoya
Published: March 2017

Abstract. The Russian Plain (RP) is divided into two principally different parts. The northern half of the RP is a predominantly forested area with a low proportion of arable fields. In contrast, the southern half of the RP has a very high proportion of arable land. During the last 30 years, this agricultural region of the RP has experienced considerable land use transformation and changes in precipitation due to climate change have altered soil erosion rates. This paper describes the use of erosion model calculations and GIS spatial analytical methods for the evaluation of trends in erosion rates in the RP. Climate change (RIHMI World Data Center, 2016), land use transformation and crop rotation modification (Rosstat, 2016; R Core Team, 2016) are the main factors governing erosion rates in the region during recent decades. It was determined that mean annual erosion rates have decreased from 7.3 to 4.1 t ha−1 yr−1 in the forest zone mostly because of the serious reduction in the surface runoff coefficient for periods of snowmelt. At the same time, the erosion rates have increased from 3.9 to 4.6 t ha−1 yr−1 in the steppe zone due to the increasing frequency of heavy rain-storms.
The potential for gamma-emitting radionuclides to contribute to an understanding of erosion processes in South Africa
Authors: Foster Ian D. L. , Boardman John , Collins Adrian L. , Copeland-Phillips Ruth , Kuhn Nikolaus J. , Mighall Tim M. , Pulley Simon , Rowntree Kate M.
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Several research projects undertaken by the authors and others over the last 14 years have used fallout and geogenic radionuclides for understanding erosion processes and sediment yield dynamics in South Africa over the last 100–200 years as European settlers colonised the interior plains and plateaux of the country and imported new livestock and farming techniques to the region. These projects have used two fallout radionuclides (210Pb and 137Cs) to date sediments accumulating in reservoirs, farm dams, wetlands, alluvial fans and floodouts and have used other fallout nuclides (7Be) and long-lived geogenic radionuclides (e.g. 40K, 235U) as part of a composite fingerprint exploring contemporary sediment sources and changes to sources through time. While successful in many parts of the world, applying these techniques in Southern Africa has posed a number of challenges often not encountered elsewhere. Here we explore some of the benefits and challenges in using gamma-emitting radionuclides, especially 137Cs, in these landscapes. Benefits include the potential for discriminating gully sidewall from topsoil sources, which has helped to identify contemporary gully systems as sediment conduits, rather than sources, and for providing a time-synchronous marker horizon in a range of sedimentary environments that has helped to develop robust chronologies. Challenges include the spatial variability in soil cover on steep rocky hillslopes, which is likely to challenge assumptions about the uniformity of initial fallout nuclide distribution, the paucity of stable (non-eroding) sites in order to estimate atmospheric fallout inventories, and the limited success of 210Pb dating in some rapidly accumulating high altitude catchments where sediments often comprise significant amounts of sand and gravel. Despite these challenges we present evidence suggesting that the use of gamma-emitting radionuclides can make a significant contribution to our understanding of erosion processes and sediment yield dynamics. Future research highlighted in the conclusion will try to address current challenges and outline new projects established to address them more fully.
Nacionalismo y representaciones lingüísticas en Ceuta y en Melilla
Authors: Fernández García Alicia
Published: March 2017

Esta contribución pretende estudiar las ciudades de Ceuta y de Melilla como “laboratorios” del plurilingüismo debido a la presencia y al contacto de varias lenguas. Si el castellano es la lengua oficial de estos enclaves, los españoles de origen marroquí, así como los habitantes de dicho origen, que representan numéricamente la segunda comunicad más importante, tienen como lengua materna el dariya o árabe dialectal en Ceuta y el tamazight en Melilla. Estas dos lenguas son habladas por casi el 40% de sus poblaciones respectivas, un porcentaje que es superior al de vascófonos en el País Vasco. A diferencia de otras regiones españolas bilingües, en estas dos ciudades jamás ha habido ni promoción ni defensa de dichas lenguas, sólo un reconocimiento de la pluralidad cultural de sus habitantes.
Proyección de mujeres medievales de la realeza en los textos literarios barrocos y románticos
Authors: Camaño Giráldez Jesusa
Published: March 2017

En este trabajo se pretende comentar la presencia de reinas o mujeres emparentadas con la nobleza medieval en algunos textos literarios escritos durante el Barroco y el Romanticismo. Dichos textos, de carácter dramático y narrativo, ofrecen una imagen que pretende ser analizada con el objetivo de explicar cuál era su papel y cómo eran vistas por los escritores de las obras señaladas.
Os primeiros poemas de Aurelio Aguirre na prensa galega (1951)
Authors: Rodríguez González Olivia , Martínez González Xurso
Published: March 2017

Ao fío dunha investigación sobre Neira de Mosquera na prensa compostelá, localizáronse no xornal El Santiagués (1850-1851) cinco poemas esquecidos de Aurelio Aguirre que se suman aos que se presentaron na edición crítica da obra recuperada do poeta en 2013. O interese do achádego reside en que son, polo momento, os primeiros versos que o poeta publica na prensa, e en que reafirman documentalmente a vinculación da Xeración de 1856 coa protagonista do preludio á Revolución de 1846, ambas educadas no provincialismo. Analízase o papel da prensa no campo literario galego do s. XIX e edítanse os textos aguirrianos acompañados dunha análise literaria que parte da súa contextualización no segundo romanticismo en Galicia.
De Ermolao Barbaro a Francisco López de Villalobos: Jugando a reinventar a Plauto
Authors: Sanfilippo Marina
Published: March 2017

En este trabajo, a través del estudio de las ediciones incunables y postincunables de las comedias de Plauto, se determina que, para su traducción del Amphitruo, Francisco López de Villalobos utilizó como texto fuente una edición italiana de 1497 (o incluso otra de 1495). Analizando las glosas de Villalobos; cómo este tradujo versos atribuidos al humanista italiano Ermolao Barbaro, interpolados en el texto del Amphitruo en la edición en cuestión; y varios rasgos característicos de la vida y la obra del médico zamorano se aportan datos que sustentan la hipótesis de que Villalobos volcó el Amphitruo al español, por lo menos en una versión inicial, en Salamanca antes de agosto de 1498. Por lo tanto, la primera traducción al español de una comedia plautina coincidió en el tiempo y en el espacio con la elaboración de la primera versión impresa de La Celestina.