bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philosophiae portus e arx philosophiae: apropriação e superação agostiniana da tradição filosófica Grego-Romana em relação à felicidade
Authors: Costa Marcos Roberto Nunes
Published: December 2014

Mantendo-se na linha de São Justino, o qual, apesar de valorizar a Filosofia Grego-Romana, defende ser o Cristianismo a "verdadeira filosofia", Agostinho fundamenta ou alicerça seu conceito de felicidade na tradição filosófica que o antecedeu, a qual é concebida por ele como um philosophiae portus (porto da filosofia). Entretanto, como pensador cristão, buscando superar o eudaimonismo grego-romano, ao distinguir sabedoria e Verdade, sendo esta última identificada com Deus, faz da Fé Cristã o arx philosophiae (ápice da filosofia), a que chama de "nossa Filosofia Cristã", lugar da "verdadeira felicidade", que, para ele, é a principal finalidade de todo filosofar.
Os sete graus de atividade da alma humana no De quantitate animae de Santo Agostinho
Authors: Strefling Sérgio Ricardo
Published: December 2014

A alma é, sem dúvida, um dos problemas que mais interessou a Santo Agostinho; ele a define como uma substância partícipe da razão adequada ao governo de um corpo. A alma não tem quantidade corporal, contudo, é uma coisa grande. Este estudo pretende refletir sobre os sete graus de atividade da alma, os quais o autor apresenta na sua obra De quantitate animae. São eles: a animação, a sensação, a arte, a virtude, a tranquilidade, o ingresso e a contemplação.
Watertightness in anti-flotation slabs: MIS-RJ case
Authors: Britez C. , Helene P. , Bueno S. , Pacheco J.
Published: December 2014

It is common in coastal cities as Rio de Janeiro, that buildings located close to the shoreline have their basements below water table level. In most cases, the engineering solution for these buildings is to design a massive anti-flotation slab to satisfy, principally, the issues related to structural dimensioning and calculation hypothesis. On the other hand, the execution of this solution imply in significant construction problems related to reinforced concrete watertightness and durability. This paper presents a case study about challenges and solutions devised to execute an anti-flotation, 1m thick, 1200m³ reinforced concrete slab for the new Museu de Imagem e Som (MIS) - Sound and Image Museum, located at 50m from the seashore, at Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, RJ. The results show that concrete proportions, concreting plan and pouring method adopted were decisive in obtaining a watertight structure, avoiding thus the employment of traditional waterproofing alternatives.
DNA Barcoding in Forensic Vertebrate Species Identification
Authors: Carlos Benigno Vieira de Carvalho
Published: December 2014

Animal identification is essential in a large number of forensic cases, including bush meat harvest, unregulated trade in protected species or species’ derivatives, introduction of exotic species without a proper permit and food fraud. The analysis of morphological traits has been the most traditional method used for species identification and taxonomy. However, when morphological identification is compromised, genetic identification can be used to associate sequences from unknown samples to a sequence from a reference sample. Based on a standard region of 650 base pairs of the subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase mitochondrial gene (COI) and using a validated reference database, the DNA Barcoding system for cataloging and identifying animal species has been proposed. In order to test the utility of DNA Barcoding in forensic vertebrate species identification, COI sequences from previously identified samples from human and a variety of domestic and wild specimens of Brazilian mammals, birds, fishes were compared against the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). BOLD provided a correct species-level identification for 12 out of the 20 queried sequences (60%) and presented the correct species as the best matched one for 17 out of 18 samples morphologically identified to this level (94%). Cases where BOLD did not deliver a species level identification were associated with the controversial taxonomic status of some species, the possible occurrence of a biological event like hybridization and the lack of representation of some groups in the database. The results showed that DNA Barcoding is already effective for species identification in many cases and, although presenting some limitations, the use of the tool must be improved and widespread in forensic casework.
Are Childhood Abuse and Neglect Related to Age of First Homelessness Episode Among Currently Homeless Adults?
Authors: Mar Marissa Y. , Linden Isabelle A. , Torchalla Iris , Li Kathy , Krausz Michael
Published: December 2014

This study investigates 500 homeless adults and the associations between childhood maltreatment types and the age of first reported homelessness episode. Those first experiencing homelessness in youth (age 24 years or younger; 46%) were compared with those first experiencing homelessness at a later age (older than age 24 years). In individual models, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect were associated with first experiencing homelessness during youth (p< .02 for all types of maltreatment). In the simultaneous model, only emotional abuse remained significantly associated (p= .002). In addition, increasing numbers of maltreatment were associated with becoming homeless during youth (p< .0001). These results highlight the unique associations between childhood maltreatment types and becoming homeless earlier in life and support the need for early interventions with at-risk families.
Structure de la region d'Ijibiten (feuille El Gleitat, E d'Akjoujt, Mauritanie occidentale)
Authors: Lecorche Jean Paul
Published: December 2014

Folds, overthrusts, four units, Precambrian basement rocks, sedimentary cover of Paleozoic age, Reg unit overthrust, and the epimetamorphic formations
Application of lignocellulolytic fungi for bioethanol production from renewable biomass
Authors: Jovic Jelena , Pejin Jelena , Kocic-Tanackov Suncica , Mojovic Ljiljana
Published: December 2014

Pretreatment is a necessary step in the process of conversion of
lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol; by changing the structure of
lignocellulose, enhances enzymatic hydrolysis, but, often, it consumes large
amounts of energy and/or needs an application of expensive and toxic
chemicals, which makes the process economically and ecologically
unfavourable. Application of lignocellulolytic fungi (from the class
Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes) is an attractive method for
pre-treatment, environmentally friendly and does not require the investment
of energy. Fungi produce a wide range of enzymes and chemicals, which,
combined in a variety of ways, together successfully degrade lignocellulose,
as well as aromatic polymers that share features with lignin. On the basis of
material utilization and features of a rotten wood, they are divided in three
types of wood-decay fungi: white rot, brown rot and soft rot fungi. White rot
fungi are the most efficient lignin degraders in nature and, therefore, have
a very important role in carbon recycling from lignified wood. This paper
describes fungal mechanisms of lignocellulose degradation. They involve
oxidative and hydrolytic mechanisms. Lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase,
laccase, cellobiose dehydrogenase and enzymes able to catalyze formation of
hydroxyl radicals (?OH) such as glyoxal oxidase, pyranose-2-oxidase and
aryl-alcohol oxidase are responsible for oxidative processes, while
cellulases and hemicellulases are involved in hydrolytic processes.
Throughout the production stages, from pre-treatment to fermentation, the
possibility of their application in the technology of bioethanol production
is presented. Based on previous research, the advantages and disadvantages of
biological pre-treatment are pointed out.
Cyclic phosphatidic acid induces G0/G1 arrest, inhibits AKT phosphorylation, and downregulates cyclin D1 expression in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Tsukahara Tamotsu , Haniu Hisao , Matsuda Yoshikazu
Published: December 2014

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and its analogs are well-known mitogens for various cell types. Many reports have confirmed that several types of cancer cell produce LPA to promote survival, growth and tumorigenesis. This indicates that the interface between the LPA signaling pathway and the cell cycle signaling system is critical to the control of cancer cell proliferation. However, our previous study indicated that cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA), which is structurally similar to LPA, inhibits the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. It has been reported that cPA shows several biological activities not shown by LPA. However, understanding of the detailed molecular and cellular mechanism underlying the regulation of the cell cycle by cPA is still in its infancy. In this study, we investigated the effect of cPA treatment on human DLD-1 colon cancer cells by analyzing cell cycle dynamics, gene expression, and AKT phosphorylation. Our findings indicate that cPA inhibits cell cycle progression in DLD-1 colon cancer cells via the downregulation of cyclin D1 and the inhibition of AKT phosphorylation.
No end to caring?: Politics and the moral riptide of human evolution
Authors: Robison Shea
Published: December 2014

In a recent issue ofPolitics and the Life SciencesMark Walker presented a compelling proposition for reducing evil in the world via an interdisciplinary program he calls the “Genetic Virtue Project” (GVP). As Walker explains, the purpose of the GVP is “to discover and enhance human ethics using biotechnology genetic correlates of virtuous behavior.”PLSsubsequently published several critiques of this proposal. While most of these critiques focused on conventional doubts about the technical feasibility or the ethics of such interventions, the more fundamental concern revealed by both Walker's proposal and its critiques is in the largely unquestioned assumption that more morality is necessarily better. Human history is marked by a gradual if uneven extension of moral concern to increasingly distant others, which many take as evidence of the rationality of morality. There is substantial evidence, though, that this expansion is fundamentally biological in origin and therefore not ultimately limited by rationality. Because these expanding moral feelings feel so good to us, we are incapable of perceiving the danger from their ever-expanding focus, in particular from the sincere but increasingly maladaptive collective policies they will engender. Utilizing the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche as a platform, the feasibility of different natural and cultural responses to this impending crisis of caring are examined, none of which are found capable of counteracting this expanding morality. Instead, the best hope for a successful response to this dangerous expansion of caring is actually a sort of reverse GVP, in which the biological mechanisms for this unchecked moral expansion are manipulated via genetic engineering to dial back this expansion. However, the likelihood of actually implementing such an admittedly counterintuitive and controversial program within an increasingly democratized world is doubtful. Ultimately, if we are unable to overcome this betrayal by our best intentions, where does that leave us as a species?
Biometric parameters and intra ocular lens power used for cataract eyes in Karnali, Nepal
Authors: Baral Pawan , Baral Nabin , Maharjan Indra Man , Gautam Bhoj Raj , Bhandari Madhavendra
Published: December 2014

Introduction: The biometric parameters of the eye are measured for the calculation of the intra ocular lens power to be used in cataract surgery. Objective: To report the keratometry reading, axial length and intra ocular lens power used for eyes operated for cataract in Karnali Zone, Nepal, and to compare these findings with those reported in other similar studies. Subjects and methods: The data for the study were retrospectively collected from the case files of patients who had undergone cataract surgery between January 2011 and July 2012 in Karnali Zone, Nepal. These surgeries were performed in an outreach surgical camp organized by the Himalaya Eye Hospital, Nepal, as a part of its annual program. The SPSS 16.0 and Microsoft Excel 2007 software were used for the data analysis.Results: The total number of patients taken for the study was 1055 and the total number of eyes was 1055. There were 530 (50.23%) males and 525 (49.77%) females, with the mean age of 64.34±11.25, ranging from 8 to 98 years.The mean keratometry reading for the total sample was 44.11±1.6 (range, 34.00D to 49.00D). The mean axial length for the total sample was 22.68±0.88 (range, 17.75 to 26.17). The mean IOL power for the total sample was 21.60±1.74 (range, +15.00 to +30.00).Conclusion: The biometric eye parameters of keratometry, axial length and IOL power of this study required for cataract surgery in a Karnali population are similar to those presented in other similar studies from Nepal and abroad.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11690Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6(12): 192-196
Effectiveness of measuring the central field with the Berkeley field test
Authors: Mishra Sanjeeb K , Shrestha Gauri S , Korani Hiral
Published: December 2014

Introduction: There are several limitations of the Amsler chart as a screening tool due to its low sensitivity and high false-negative results. The Berkeley central visual field test (BCFT), which is a simple power-point presentation of a 50-point scoring system for the central 10-degree of the visual field, was devised as an alternative to the Amsler chart.Objectives: To compare the efficacy of measuring the central visual field using the Berkeley central field test (BCFT) and the Amsler grid test.Materials and methods: In a comparative and validity study, 30 subjects with maculopathy and 35 controls were recruited. The maculopathy subjects with the best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better and 2.5M for distant and near vision respectively, were included. All the subjects under went a complete eye examination where visual assessment was done using the distant and near vision Log MAR Chart. The subjects were assessed with the Amsler chart-II at a distance of 30 cm. The BCFT was used as a 50- point scoring system. The effectiveness of BCFT was compared with that of the Amsler grid regarding the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).  Results: Out of 65 subjects, 30 subjects had maculopathy and 35 were normal. The mean age of the 65 subjects was 49.8±9.1 years. Of the 30 subjects with maculopathy, the majority (54%) had age- related macular degeneration. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the Amsler grid test were found to be 80%, 100%, 100% and 87%, respectively, whereas those of the BCFT were 71%, 99%, 98% and 82% (p=0.37). Conclusion: The BCFT test was as good as the Amsler grid test at detecting the presence of maculopathy.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11701Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6 (12): 170-176
Small-incision cataract surgery in patients with Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis
Authors: Bhargava R , Kumar P , Sharma SK , Ranjan S , Kumar M , Godara Rohini
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) is often complicated by cataract formation.Objective: To assess the results of small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) in FHI and to study the effect of preoperative factors on postoperative vision.Materials and methods: Sixty-three eyes of 59 patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis who had SICS with in-the-bag implantation of intraocular lens (IOL) were evaluated retrospectively; and the primary and secondary outcome measures evaluated were the postoperative vision and complication rate.Results: The mean age was 39.22 ± 4.95 years. The mean pre-operative vision was 0.75 ± 0.24 Log MAR units. The mean final vision was 0.27 ± 0.10 Log MAR units (P = < 0.001). At the final follow-up, 84.1 % of the patients had a final Snellen’s vision of 6/12 or better. The mean follow-up period was 12.06 ± 2.06 months. The causes of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) worse than 6/60 were vitreous opacities, posterior keratic precipitates (KPs), glaucoma, persistent uveitis and cystoid macular edema (CME). Preoperative factors like iris atrophy (P = 0.973), heterochromia (P = 0.10) and vessels in angle (P = 0.074) did not have a significant effect on the final vision. On the contrary, vitreous opacities (P = 0.002) and posterior KPs (P = 0.009) had a significant effect on the final visual outcome.Conclusion: SICS with in-the-bag implantation of IOL in patients with Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis resulted in good visual outcomes. SICS in complicated cataracts can be performed in rural settings and eye camps with minimal instrumentation, obviating the need for referral to tertiary care centers. Pre-operative factors like vitreous opacities and posterior KPs have a significant effect on the final vision.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11705Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014: 6 (12): 153-161
Orbital manifestations in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Authors: Sodhi Punita Kumari
Published: December 2014

Introduction: The orbital manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are uncommon.Objective: To provide a review of orbital manifestations of AIDS, the predisposing factors, investigations, treatment and outcome.  Materials and methods: Meticulous and systematic literature search of Pubmed to identify manuscripts describing orbital manifestations of AIDS was done and the articles were reviewed. The keywords used in the search were “orbit and AIDS”, “HIV positive and orbit”, “orbit manifestations in AIDS”, “orbital disease and AIDS” and “orbital infections and AIDS”. The orbital involvement in AIDS may present with opportunistic infections from organisms like fungi, viruses, bacteria and protozoa or with malignancies like Kaposi’s sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, smooth muscle cell tumors and lymphoma. The predisposing factors for orbital involvement in AIDS are low CD4+ cell count and the immunosuppressive states like diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, intravenous drug abuse and neutropenia. A patient may present with fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, decreased vision, ocular pain, and, in cases of mass formation, there is periorbital swelling, axial proptosis, globe displacement and swollen optic disc. Radiologically, mass formation, orbital bony destruction, and spread of disease to contiguous structures including the central nervous system may be seen. The medical management includes therapy for infection and HIV-1 protease inhibitors (highly active antiretroviral therapy) to suppress HIV-1 replication. For tumors, radical surgery including debulking followed by postoperative radiotherapy is generally needed.  Conclusion: Orbital involvements with AIDS in any form, infective or malignancy, causes significant morbidity and mortality and should be diagnosed and managed as early as possible.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11710Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6(12): 205-219
Bilateral central serous chorio-retinopathy in pregnancy presenting with severe visual loss
Authors: Chakraborti Chandana , Samanta Swapan Kumar , Faiduddin Khandakar , Choudhury Krittika Pal , Kumar Sheuli , Mondal Ramkrishna
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Bilateral central serous chorio-retinopathy is an unusual presentation.  Objective: To report a case of pregnancy-induced bilateral central serous chorio-retinopathy. Case: A thirty-year-old woman complaining of reduced vision in both the eyes was referred for ophthalmoscopic evaluation in her third trimester of pregnancy. The best-corrected visual acuity was 6/60 in the right eye and finger counting at four meters in the left. The funduscopic examination revealed serous macular detachment with white sub-retinal exudates in both the eyes. Optical coherence tomography sections through the macula demonstrated serous elevation of the retina and retinal pigment epithelial detachment in both the eyes. The serous macular detachment resolved and the patient recovered to the visual acuity of 6/6 in both the eyes after twelve weeks of delivery. The OCT showed resolution of the sub-retinal fluid and disappearance of the sub-macular exudate in the right eye, but the resolution was partial in the left eye.Conclusion: Pregnancy is a risk factor for CSCR and it can present with severe bilateral visual diminution.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11711Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6(12): 220-223
Sac over the sac - a rare case of subcutaneous dirofilariasis over the lacrimal sac area
Authors: Shankar Mahesh Kumar , Shet Satish , Gupta Piyush , Nadgir Shobha Druva
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Dirofilariasis is a rare parasitic infestation in humans.Case: A 33-year-old female from the coastal area presented with a swelling over the right lacrimal sac area. It was clinically diagnosed as a lacrimal abscess and was incised under local anesthesia. A live coiled worm was found and removed along with the cyst.  Observations: The worm looked like a thin white thread measuring 101 mm in length. On microscopic examination, the anterior end was slightly tapered and had a rounded head. The H & E stained section of the worm revealed longitudinal ridges with transverse striations on the cuticle. Based on these findings, the worm was identified as dirofilaria repens. Conclusion: Dirofilariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital region swelling and conjunctivitis. Surgical removal of the worm not only establishes the diagnosis but also provides a definitive cure.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11712Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6 (12): 224-226
A case of frost branch angitis in pregnancy : an unusual presentation
Authors: Wadhwani Meenakshi , Gogia Varun , Kakkar Ashish , Satyapal Raji , Venkatesh Pradeep , Sharma Yograj
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Frosted branch angiitis usually occurs in children and presents with severe sheathing of all retinal vessels mimicking the appearance of frosted branches of a tree.  Objective: To report a case of frosted branch angiitis in a pregnant lady.Case: We, hereby, report a case of a 24-year-old pregnant female who presented to us with the complaints of sudden diminution of vision in the right eye for three days. Fundus examination revealed severe sheathing of all retinal vessels with neurosensory retinal detachment suggestive of frosted branch angiitis. The case was treated with posterior sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone.  Conclusion: Similar to the good prognosis reported earlier in most patients with frosted branch angiitis, the outcome in our patient was satisfactory.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11715Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6 (12): 234-236
Phaco capsulotomy in intumescent cataract
Authors: Mahalingam Prabhushanker , Sambhav Kumar
Published: December 2014

No AbstractDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11718Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014; 6(12): 242-243
Imagine Reality
Authors: Ahrens Jörn
Published: December 2014

With Epileptic, French comics artist David B. presents a graphic novel as innovative in style as it is experimental in content. In the foreground, Epileptic is an autobiographical tale about his youth overshadowed by his brother's suffering from epilepsy, but it is also the illustration of a dream-world. David B. consequently entangles the levels of reality, autobiography and dreamlike fantasy. Emphasised by the interaction of clear graphics with hard black-and-white contrasts and the use of surrealistic and medieval quotations, David B. presents a unique combination of art, narrative and abstraction.
Editorial
Authors: Clarsen Georgine , Mom Gijs
Published: December 2014

This is the twelfth issue of Transfers, and perhaps it is time to stop calling it a “new” journal! Our “baby” is growing up, thriving in an expanding landscape of interdisciplinary mobilities research. Transfers is maturing into a robust vehicle for global conversations.

Our rather ambitious mission has been both conceptual and empirical: to “rethink mobilities” and provide publishing opportunities for innovative research. For us, that has been exemplified in our commitment in several areas. Most importantly, we fly the flag for the new theoretical approaches that continue to move the field beyond the social sciences, where the “new mobilities paradigm” was first articulated. We position ourselves as part of a vibrant intellectual project that bridges theoretical developments and research agendas in the humanities and the social sciences.
Antioxidant Activity of Leaf Extracts from Different Hibiscus sabdariffa Accessions and Simultaneous Determination Five Major Antioxidant Compounds by LC-Q-TOF-MS
Authors: Wang Jin , Cao Xianshuang , Jiang Hao , Qi Yadong , Chin Kit , Yue Yongde
Published: December 2014

Hibiscus sabdariffa has gained attention for its antioxidant activity. There are many accessions of H. sabdariffa in the world. However, information on the quantification of antioxidant compounds in different accessions is rather limited. In this paper, a liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) method for simultaneous determination of five antioxidant compounds (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, and isoquercitrin) in H. sabdariffa leaves was developed. The method was validated for linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability and accuracy. The validated method has been successfully applied for determination of the five analytes in eight accessions of H. sabdariffa. The eight accessions of H. sabdariffa were evaluated for their antioxidant activities by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The investigated accessions of H. sabdariffa were rich in rutin and exhibited strong antioxidant activity. The two accessions showing the highest antioxidant activities were from Cuba (No. 2) and Taiwan (No. 5). The results indicated that H. sabdariffa leaves could be considered as a potential antioxidant source for the food industry. The developed LC-Q-TOF-MS method is helpful for quality control of H. sabdariffa.
Surface-Based Registration of Airborne and Terrestrial Mobile LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Teo Tee-Ann , Huang Shih-Han
Published: December 2014

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is an active sensor that can effectively acquire a large number of three-dimensional (3-D) points. LiDAR systems can be equipped on different platforms for different applications, but to integrate the data, point cloud registration is needed to improve geometric consistency. The registration of airborne and terrestrial mobile LiDAR is a challenging task because the point densities and scanning directions differ. We proposed a scheme for the registration of airborne and terrestrial mobile LiDAR using the least squares 3-D surface registration technique to minimize the surfaces between two datasets. To analyze the effect of point density in registration, the simulation data simulated different conditions and estimated the theoretical errors. The test data were the point clouds of the airborne LiDAR system (ALS) and the mobile LiDAR system (MLS), which were acquired by Optech ALTM 3070 and Lynx, respectively. The resulting simulation analysis indicated that the accuracy of registration improved as the density increased. For the test dataset, the registration error of mobile LiDAR between different trajectories improved from 40 cm to 4 cm, and the registration error between ALS and MLS improved from 84 cm to 4 cm. These results indicate that the proposed methods can obtain 5 cm accuracy between ALS and MLS.
A NOVEL PROCESS FOR NUTRIENTS REMOVAL AND PHOSPHORUS RECOVERY FROM DOMESTIC WASTEWATER BY COMBINING BNR WITH INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION
Authors: ZOU Haiming , LU Xiwu , LI Ting
Published: December 2014

An excessive discharge of phosphorus from wastewater to water bodies may potentially contribute to eutrophication. On the other hand, mineral phosphorus resources will be depleted in the near future, because of difficulty to automatically recycle from water to land, unlike nitrogen. A new process for nutrients removal coupled with phosphorus recovery was proposed in this study by combining biological nutrients removal (BNR) with induced crystallization (IC), BNR-IC for short later, differently from conventional phosphorus recovery process. Our results showed that the BNR-IC system can maintain not only high and stable carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies, all presenting above 90%, but also good phosphorus recovery performance from synthetic domestic wastewater, displaying about 70.2% of phosphorus recovery rate. When the COD, TN, NH4–N and P concentrations of 250 mg L−1, 42 mg L−1, 40 mg L−1, and 10 mg L−1, respectively were given in the influent, a stable removal efficiencies of 92.5% COD, 78.6% TN, 85.9% NH4–N and 95.2% P were obtained for the BNR-IC process and correspondingly the COD, TN, NH4–N and P concentrations of 18.75 mg L−1, 8.99 mg L−1, 5.64 mg L−1, 0.42 mg L−1 were monitored in the effluent, meeting the Chinese National Class I (grade A) Sewage Discharge Standard. Analyses of SEM and EDS, moreover, also demonstrated that the surface of seed crystal (calcite used here) was completely covered by hydroxyl calcium phosphate (HAP) produced during the induced crystallization process to recover phosphorus. Although our study involved only a small-scale trial, the proposed BNR-IC process here may be a promising technology, and can potentially aid in improvement of the effluent quality from WWTP and in recycle of mineral phosphorus resources when applied to practice.
African Union as a Platform of African Conflict Management
Authors: Černohous Tomáš , Kříž Zdeněk
Published: December 2014

The article focuses on assessing the ability of the African Union to perform the policy, peacekeeping and peacemaking roles within its conflict management doctrine and it also discusses whether African security problems may be more easily solved by the AU as an organization with a continental profile or by some other African organization on lower level. According to authors, the AU suffers from similar deficits as local regional organizations, which considerably restrict its efficiency and make the gap between AU's security mandate and the sources for its achievement, but it manages to perform the conflict management activities to a far greater degree than any other African organization at a much lower level has ever managed. With regard to that, the authors suggest an ideal profile of an actor capable of solving Africa's security problems in the form of the AU and its African Peace and Security Architecture representing a platform of equal cooperation of the Union with regional organizations and combining the advantages of both of these actors' approach towards conflict management.
Antiretroviral Neuropenetration Scores Better Correlate with Cognitive Performance of HIV-Infected Patients after Accounting for drug Susceptibility
Authors: Fabbiani Massimiliano , Grima Pierfrancesco , Milanini Benedetta , Mondi Annalisa , Baldonero Eleonora , Ciccarelli Nicoletta , Cauda Roberto , Silveri Maria C , De Luca Andrea , Giambenedetto Simona Di
Published: December 2014

Background

The aim of the study was to explore how viral resistance and antiretroviral central nervous system (CNS) penetration could impact on cognitive performance of HIV-infected patients.

Methods

We performed a multicentre cross-sectional study enrolling HIV-infected patients undergoing neuropsychological testing, with a previous genotypic resistance test on plasma samples. CNS penetration-effectiveness (CPE) scores and genotypic susceptibility scores (GSS) were calculated for each regimen. A composite score (CPE-GSS) was then constructed. Factors associated with cognitive impairment were investigated by logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 215 patients were included. Mean CPE was 7.1 (95% CI 6.9, 7.3) with 206 (95.8%) patients showing a CPE≥6. GSS correction decreased the CPE value in 21.4% (mean 6.5, 95% CI 6.3, 6.7), 26.5% (mean 6.4, 95% CI 6.1, 6.6) and 24.2% (mean 6.4, 95% CI 6.2, 6.6) of subjects using ANRS, HIVDB and REGA rules, respectively. Overall, 66 (30.7%) patients were considered cognitively impaired. No significant association could be demonstrated between CPE and cognitive impairment. However, higher GSS-CPE was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment (CPE-GSSANRS odds ratio 0.75, P=0.022; CPE-GSSHIVDB odds ratio 0.77, P=0.038; CPE-GSSREGA odds ratio 0.78, P=0.038). Overall, a cutoff of CPE-GSS≥5 seemed the most discriminatory according to each different interpretation system.

Conclusions

GSS-corrected CPE score showed a better correlation with neurocognitive performance than the standard CPE score. These results suggest that antiretroviral drug susceptibility, besides drug CNS penetration, can play a role in the control of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
On the future contents of a small journal of histochemistry
Authors: Pellicciari C.
Published: December 2014

In the last three years, more than 70,000 scientific articles have been published in peer reviewed journals on the application of histochemistry in the biomedical field: most of them did not appear in strictly histochemical journals, but in others dealing with cell and molecular biology, medicine or biotechnology. This proves that histochemistry is still an active and innovative discipline with relevance in basic and applied biological research, but also demonstrates that especially the small histochemical Journals should likely reconsider their scopes and strategies to preserve their authorship. A review of the last three years volumes of the European Journal of Histochemistry, taken as an example of a long-time established small Journal, confirmed that the published articles were widely heterogeneous in their topics and experimental models, as in this Journalâ€™s tradition. This strongly suggests that a Journal of histochemistry should keep its role as a forum open to an audience as broad as possible, publishing papers on cell and tissue biology in a wide variety of models. This will improve knowledge of the basic mechanisms of development and differentiation, while helping to increase the number of potential authors since scientists who generally do not use histochemistry in their research will find hints for the applications of histochemical techniques to novel still unexplored subjects.
Pluripotent stem cells - Methods and protocols
Authors: Redi Carlo Alberto
Published: December 2014

The 2012 Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded conjunctely to Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent as during the syxties John Gurdon challenged the dogma that the specialised cell is irreversibly committed to its fate and just few years ago Shinya Yamanaka was the first to induce mature cells to reverse their development and turn back into induced pluripotent stem cells....
Stem cells and aging - methods and protocols
Authors: Redi Carlo Alberto
Published: December 2014

Thirteen chapters dealing with one of the most neglegted aspect of stem cell biology: their senescence. Rightly pointed out by prof. Kursad Turksen (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Sprott center for stem cells research, Ottawa, Canada) we are facing an aging population worldwide, the demographic structure of western populations are dramatically changed in the last two-three decades with the majority of people being over fifty (and a significan proportion being over sistyfive, i.e., being old !).....
Embryo culture - Methods and protocols
Authors: Redi Carlo Alberto
Published: December 2014

It has been a really pleasure to follow the presentation of all the topics related to the improvements occurring in human embryo culture as they are here presented. In other words, I am pretty sure that the readers will share the pleasure of going through this book and of catching the architectural relationshisps that the distinguished editors gave to the twenty-three chapters, the historical / logical sequence of the presentation which is frameworked by an introductory chapter dealing with the historical background of gamete and embryo culture that by itself is worth the cost of the book !.....
Proceedings of the XXXIV National Meeting of the Italian Society for the Study of Connective Tissues (SISC)
Authors: Antonio Rossi President:
Published: December 2014

Proceedings of the XXXIV National Meeting of the Italian Society for the Study of Connective Tissues (SISC)
Life’ in the fourth Gospel and its resonances with Genesis 1−3
Authors: Mbamalu Abiola
Published: December 2014

The fourth Gospel is notably different from the Synoptics in its apparent lack of explicit fulfilment motif. Indeed the fourth Gospel is quite different in some ways because of its high Christology. Notable in this regard is its take on ‘realised’ eschatology. Scholars have found little in the Hebrew Scriptures as the Gospel’s take-off point for this understanding. This article argues that the fourth Gospel’s understanding of ‘realised’ eschatology is informed by its understanding of the concept of life as found in the early chapters of Genesis.‘Lewe’ in die vierde Evangelie en die weerklank daarvan Genesis 1−3. Die vierde Evangelie verskil aansienlik van die Sinoptiese Evangelies in die opsig dat ’n ekplisiete vervullingsmotief ooglopend daarin ontbreek. Trouens, daar word dikwels gesê dat die vierde Evangelie radikaal van die basiese leringe van die Bybel afwyk, in besonder vanweë die prominente Christologie daarvan. Wat veral in die verband merkwaardig is, is die opvatting van ’n ‘gerealiseerde’ eskatologie in die Evangelie. Tot dusver het geleerdes weinig in die Hebreeuse Bybel gekry om hierdie opvatting as die uitgangspunt van die Evangelie te regverdig. Hierdie artikel voer aan dat die verstaan van ‘n ‘gerealiseerde’ eskatologie in die vierde Evangelie gebou is op die verstaan van die konsep van lewe soos in die eerste hoofstukke van Genesis gevind word.
A hypothesis for the composition history of Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians
Authors: Jordaan Gert J.C.
Published: December 2014

The abrupt transitions and incoherent passages in 2 Corinthians led some scholars to believe that the letter originated from a composition of a number of documents. There are also scholars who try to solve the problem by harmonising the obviously incoherent passages of the letter. In this article, a different solution is proposed, namely that 2 Corinthians was written by Paul not at one occasion but over a longer period of time with several intervals. Paul probably wrote the letter in different phases whilst travelling from Ephesus to Corinth on his third missionary journey.‘n Hipotese vir die ontstaansgeskiedenis van Paulus se tweede brief aan die Korinthiërs. Die abrupte oorgange en onsamehangende gedeeltes in 2 Korintiërs het sommige biblioloë oortuig dat die brief uit ’n samestelling van verskeie korter briewe ontstaan het. Daar is ook biblioloë wat die gebrek aan samehang probeer omseil deur die onsamehangende briefgedeeltes in harmonie met mekaar te bring. In hierdie artikel word ’n ander oplossing vir die probleem aangebied, naamlik dat 2 Korintiërs nie by een geleentheid nie, maar oor ’n langer tydperk met verskeie tussenposes deur Paulus geskryf is. Die apostel het waarskynlik die brief in verskillende fases geskryf tydens sy derde sendingreis van Efesena Korinte.
Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum (=Botryosphaeria eucalyptorum) y n. parvum: patógenos en plantaciones de eucalipto en méxico
Authors: De la Mora-Castañeda Jesús G. , Cibrián-Tovar David , Pérez-Vera Omar A.
Published: December 2014

En el oriente de Michoacán, la muerte regresiva en plantaciones comerciales de eucalipto se presentó en árboles con daños por heladas y sequías en el 2013. En Eucalyptus nitens se aisló al patógeno Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum encontrando a su teleomorfo Botryosphaeria eucalyptorum en los cancros, mientras que N. parvum se aisló de E. nitens y E. globulus. Ambas especies de Neofusicoccum se identificaron por morfología y se caracterizaron molecularmente mediante PCR-ITS. Las secuencias de N. eucalyptorum (números de acceso: KC479184 y KC4799188) y N. parvum (KC479185, KC479186 y KC479187) se depositaron en el Banco de Genes del NCBI. En campo, los eucaliptos enfermos presentaron muerte regresiva, cancros fusiformes en fuste que inducen hinchamientos, flujo de resina y brotes epicórmicos. Los hongos inoculados in vitro en varetas de E. nitens y E. globulus causaron lesiones necróticas y abundantes picnidios inmaduros a 10 días después de la inoculación (ddi). En los árboles de E. nitens de tres años de edad se formó un cancro de apariencia hundida con forma fusiforme, de color café oscuro y de 13 a 21.9 cm a los 48 ddi. Este trabajo es el primer reporte de N. eucalyptorum y N. parvum en México causando enfermedad en plantaciones de eucalipto.
Reevaluation of stratospheric ozone trends from SAGE II data using a simultaneous temporal and spatial analysis
Authors: Damadeo R. P. , Zawodny J. M. , Thomason L. W.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. This paper details a new method of regression for sparsely sampled data sets for use with time-series analysis, in particular the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II ozone data set. Non-uniform spatial, temporal, and diurnal sampling present in the data set result in biased values for the long-term trend if not accounted for. This new method is performed close to the native resolution of measurements and is a simultaneous temporal and spatial analysis that accounts for potential diurnal ozone variation. Results show biases, introduced by the way data are prepared for use with traditional methods, can be as high as 10%. Derived long-term changes show declines in ozone similar to other studies but very different trends in the presumed recovery period, with differences up to 2% per decade. The regression model allows for a variable turnaround time and reveals a hemispheric asymmetry in derived trends in the middle to upper stratosphere. Similar methodology is also applied to SAGE II aerosol optical depth data to create a new volcanic proxy that covers the SAGE II mission period. Ultimately this technique may be extensible towards the inclusion of multiple data sets without the need for homogenization.
Statistical precision of the intensities retrieved from constrained fitting of overlapping peaks in high-resolution mass spectra
Authors: Cubison M. J. , Sueper D. , Jimenez J. L.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Least-squares fitting of overlapping peaks is often needed to separately quantify ions in high-resolution mass spectrometer data. A statistical simulation approach is used to assess the statistical precision of the retrieved peak intensities. The sensitivity of the fitted peak intensities to statistical noise due to ion counting is probed for synthetic data systems consisting of two overlapping ion peaks whose positions are pre-defined and fixed in the fitting procedure. The fitted intensities are sensitive to imperfections in the m/Q calibration. These propagate as a limiting precision in the fitted intensities that may greatly exceed the precision arising from counting statistics. The precision on the fitted peak intensity falls into one of three regimes. In the "counting-limited regime" (regime I), above a peak separation χ ~ 2 to 3 half widths at half-maximum (HWHM), the intensity precision is similar to that due to counting error for an isolated ion. For smaller χ and higher ion counts (~1000 and higher), the intensity precision rapidly degrades as the peak separation is reduced ("calibration-limited regime", regime II). Alternatively for χ < 1.6 but lower ion counts (e.g. 10–100) the intensity precision is dominated by the additional ion count noise from the overlapping ion, and is not affected by the imprecision in the m/Q calibration ("overlapping-limited regime," regime III). The transition between the counting and m/Q calibration-limited regimes is shown to be weakly dependent on resolving power and data spacing and can thus be approximated by a simple parameterisation based only on peak intensity ratios and separation. An approximate graphical diagnostic can also be used to find potentially problematic ion pairs when evaluating results from fitted spectra containing many ions. Longer integration times can improve the precision in regimes I and III, but a given ion pair can only be moved out of regime II through increased spectrometer resolving power. Studies presenting data obtained from least-squares fitting procedures applied to mass spectral peaks should explicitly consider these limits on statistical precision.
A century of sea level data and the UK's 2013/14 storm surges: an assessment of extremes and clustering using the Newlyn tide gauge record
Authors: Wadey M. P. , Haigh I. D. , Brown J. M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. For the UK's longest and most complete sea level record (Newlyn), we assess extreme high waters and their temporal clustering; prompted by the 2013/2014 winter of storms and flooding. These are set into context against this almost 100-year record. We define annual periods for which storm activity and high sea levels can be compared on a year-by-year basis. Amongst the storms and high tides which affected Newlyn, the recent winter produced the largest recorded high water level (3 February 2014) and five other high water events above a 1 in 1-year return period. The large magnitude of tide and mean sea level, and the close inter-event spacings (of large return period high waters), suggests that the 2013/2014 extreme high water level "season" can be considered the most extreme on record. However, storm and sea level events may be classified in different ways. For example, in the context of sea level rise (which we calculate linearly as 1.81 ± 0.1 mm yr−1 from records between 1915 to 2014), a lower probability combination of surge and tide occurred on 29 January 1948, whilst the 1995/1996 storm surge season saw the most high waters of ≥ the 1 in 1-year return period. We provide a basic categorisation of the four types of extreme high water level cluster, ranging from consecutive tidal cycles to multiple years. The assessment is extended to other UK sites (with shorter sea level records and different tide-surge characteristics), which suggests 2013/2014 was particularly unusual. Further work will assess clustering mechanisms and flood system "memory".