bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are there any association between polycistic ovary syndrome and congenital abnormalities of Müllerian ducts
Authors: Tubic-Pavlovic Aleksandra , Radovic-Janosevic Dragana , Petric Aleksandra , Stefanovic Milan
Published: June 2014

Background/Aim. There are many specificities of merital infertility and
sometimes surprising connections between some thinks with no connections at
first sight. Examinations of these patients imply diagnostic actions such as
the blood basal hormone sample, doing hysterosalpingography,
ultrahysterosonography, ultrasound examinations, and sometimes laparoscopy
and hysteroscopy if there are necessary. The aim of the study was to
determine the characteristics of the connection between policystic ovary
(PCO) syndrome (Sy) and congenital M?llerian ducts abnormalities. Methods.
This study included 356 patients treated in the period from January 1, to
December 31, 2009, in the Department of Infertility of the Clinic for
Obstetrics and Gynecology in Nis, Serbia. Exclusion criteria were no myoma,
ovary cysts, tubal and male factors of infertility. Results. A total of 180
patients were divided into 3 groups: the group I with PCO sy, the group II
with uterine congenital malformation and the group III with a combination of
these disorders. The middle age of patients was 29.6 ? 4.8, body mass index
(BMI) was 26.1 ? 4,8 kg/m2 the middle thicknes of endometrium was 5.2 + 2.7
mm, and there were no significant differences between the examined groups.
There were no significant among in a number of miscarriages in the examined
groups. We found that PCO Sy and congenital abnormalities of M?llerian ducts
were conjoint in 30% of examined patients. Conclusion. Conjoined PCO Sy and
congenital abnormalities of M?llerian ducts do not result in a higher number
of misscarriages than only either PCO Sy or abnormalities of M?llerian ducts.
It is important to check BMI, basal level of follicle stimulating hormone and
number of antral follicles because the induction protocol and concentracion
of inductors depends on these characteristics, thus, the successful cycles
and pregnancy.
AlZn based Co and Ni catalysts for the partial oxidation of bioethanol — influence of different synthesis procedures
Authors: Ehrich Heike , Kraleva Elka
Published: June 2014

The catalytic performance of Co and Ni catalysts on AlZn mixed oxide supports depends on the synthesis procedure used for their preparation. For this study CoAlZn and NiAlZn catalysts were prepared by conventional sol-gel synthesis of the mixed oxide and subsequent impregnation of the support with the transition metal (SG = sol gel method) as well as by a single-step method were a gel is formed based on salts of all components using citric acid as chelating agent (CM = citrate method). The structure and morphology of the catalysts were characterized by nitrogen sorption, XRD and TPR measurements. They showed high activity in the partial oxidation of ethanol at 600–750 °C, but their properties depend on the preparation method. The higher performance of the catalysts prepared by the citrate method, where the transition metal is incorporated into the crystal structure of the support during preparation, is based on a change in morphology and structure, resulting in more active sites exposed on the surface. Compared to the Co catalysts, Ni catalysts showed a higher performance. This might be due to the higher reducibility and the smaller Ni particles size, which allows a better interaction with the support in NiAlZn catalysts.
Recent progress in the application of glow-discharge electrolysis plasma
Authors: Ren Jie , Yao Mengqi , Yang Wu , Li Yan , Gao Jinzhang
Published: June 2014

Non-equilibrium plasma makes it is possible to modify surface chemistry, synthetize polymer materials, and oxidize some organic compounds completely by generation of energetic and chemically active species in gas or liquid phases. Glow-discharge electrolysis plasma (GDEP) has been intensely studied for applications in chemistry and in material, environmental, and biomedical engineering during the last few years because of the very highly active chemical species produced during the glow-discharge electrolysis (GDE) process. A brief review is already available regarding applications of glow-discharge electrolysis plasma technique in chemistry and environmental science during the past decade. For convenience of discussion, some papers from prior years are also cited. The contents of this review are focused on the degradation of persistent pollutants, surface modification of materials, and preparation of functional polymers.
Erratum to: “Occurrence of 2-phenylphenol in food paper packages”
Authors: Votavová Lenka , Hanušová Kristýna , Vápenka Lukáš , Dobiáš Jaroslav , Kvasnička František
Published: June 2014

The original version of the article was published in Cent. Eur. J. Chem. 12(11) (2014) pp. 1162–1168. Unfortunately, the original version of this article contains some mistakes in the Tables 2 and 3. Corrected versions of the tables are presented below.
Initiation of Movement and Energy Expenditure in Children With Developmental Delay: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Chen Chiao-Nan (Joyce) , Hwang Ai-Wen , Lin Shang-Ying , Lin Yu-Chieh
Published: June 2014

Background

Lower levels of physical activity in children with developmental delay (DD) usually are attributed to higher energy costs. However, there is no evidence that children with DD spend more energy on daily physical activities, such as walking.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare energy costs during walking and movement initiation times in children with DD and children with typical development (TD) and matched for age.

Design

This was a case-control study.

Methods

Children who were 3 and 5 years old and had DD (n=12) or TD (n=12) participated in the study. Measurements included ranges of motion in the lower extremities, physiological costs of walking, and movement initiation times. A task designed to evaluate the initiation of movement (the “go play with the toy” task) was used to examine the reaction times for children's goal-directed walking.

Results

The physiological costs of walking were similar in the 2 groups; however, children with DD walked at a lower speed than children with TD. Importantly, children with DD took more time to initiate goal-directed walking.

Limitations

The nature of the study design limited causal inference from the results.

Conclusions

Children who were 3 to 5 years old and had DD had delays in goal-directed movement that may not have been attributable to motor impairments. The findings suggest that therapists should evaluate the movement initiation ability of 3- to 5-year-old children with DD as part of the design of an overall intervention plan.
Postural Complexity Influences Development in Infants Born Preterm With Brain Injury: Relating Perception-Action Theory to 3 Cases
Authors: Dusing Stacey C. , Izzo Theresa , Thacker Leroy R. , Galloway James Cole
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose

Perception-action theory suggests a cyclical relationship between movement and perceptual information. In this case series, changes in postural complexity were used to quantify an infant's action and perception during the development of early motor behaviors.

Case Description

Three infants born preterm with periventricular white matter injury were included.

Outcomes

Longitudinal changes in postural complexity (approximate entropy of the center of pressure), head control, reaching, and global development, measured with the Test of Infant Motor Performance and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, were assessed every 0.5 to 3 months during the first year of life. All 3 infants demonstrated altered postural complexity and developmental delays. However, the timing of the altered postural complexity and the type of delays varied among the infants. For infant 1, reduced postural complexity or limited action while learning to control her head in the midline position may have contributed to her motor delay. However, her ability to adapt her postural complexity eventually may have supported her ability to learn from her environment, as reflected in her relative cognitive strength. For infant 2, limited early postural complexity may have negatively affected his learning through action, resulting in cognitive delay. For infant 3, an increase in postural complexity above typical levels was associated with declining neurological status.

Discussion

Postural complexity is proposed as a measure of perception and action in the postural control system during the development of early behaviors. An optimal, intermediate level of postural complexity supports the use of a variety of postural control strategies and enhances the perception-action cycle. Either excessive or reduced postural complexity may contribute to developmental delays in infants born preterm with white matter injury.
Effect of Different Insecticides Against Hairy Caterpillar, Euproctis icilia Stoll.
Authors: Patil VR , Lad DU , Chavan AV
Published: June 2014

Dolichos bean, Lablab purpureus Linn is one of the important vegetable crops grown in India. Among the different pests infesting the dolichos bean crop, hairy caterpillar, Euproctis icilia Stoll is the most serious pest and damages the dolichos bean from seedling to maturity stage. A statistically designed field experiment was conducted with randomised Block Design with three replications and eleven treatments during Rabi season of 2007- 08 with a view to test the relative efficacy of some insecticides for the control of hairy caterpillar. The results revealed that insecticidal treatments viz., 0.002 per cent emamectin benzoate, 0.006 per cent cypermethrin + profanophos and 0.05 per cent DDVP + 0.1 per cent carbaryl were found to be most effective for the control of hairy caterpillar, E. icilia. All the insecticidal treatments were significantly superior over control in reducing the hairy caterpillar population.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i3.10308 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.8(3): 2014: 5-7
Let’s review IPCC fifth assessment report (AR 5) on ‘Climate Change’: It’s high time to find a sustainable solution
Authors: Agrawal Ganesh Kumar , Rakwal Randeep , Sarkar Abhijit
Published: June 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i3.10494 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.8(3): 2014: i-ii
Rethinking Sarah Kane’s Characters: A Human(ist) Form and Politics
Authors: LePage Louise
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT:

The common lore of Sarah Kane scholarship is that Blasted’s characters are initially naturalistic, denoting Cartesian or liberal-humanist subjectivity, and later, are determined products (i.e. “animals” or linguistic fragments). This article shows that such assumptions are erroneous. Kane’s characters, Ian and Cate, are naturalistic; however, an examination of character in the naturalist theatre tradition reveals, not a fixed and autonomous agent, but an individual who is complexly organized by natural and cultural parts and founded upon a compatibilist model of mind. By reflecting upon the “conglomerate” naturalistic character articulated by August Strindberg, in his preface to Miss Julie (1888), the article shows that Kane’s changing dramaturgical treatment of character reveals, not different models of self, but one hybrid individual, capable of change and self-determination. Rethinking Kane’s characters, in this way, as human(ist) (but not liberal-humanist) subjects, the article brings into focus a politics for Blasted that is emancipatory: crucially, people are changeable and the human species has some capacity to determine its future.
A New Qualitative GIS Method for Investigating Neighbourhood Characteristics Using a Tablet
Authors: Schoepfer Isabelle , Rogers Stephanie R.
Published: June 2014

This article presents a methodological and technical reflection on an innovative and interactive qualitative geographic information systems (GIS) tool and method created to gauge people's images and perceptions of their neighbourhood. Knowledge gained from the critical GIS debates has led to the development of qualitative GIS and public participation GIS (PPGIS) methods, which aim to counteract the adverse effects of GIS as predominantly top-down. Drawing from critical and qualitative GIS arguments, the authors tried to create an accessible, bottom-up GIS data-collection method that involved conducting qualitative interviews while presenting digital maps on a tablet. This digital tool allowed users to change scales by zooming in and out on the map and also offered a selection of base maps affording numerous views of the city. This method not only allowed residents to generate GIS data about their neighbourhood but was also used as a visual support tool to stimulate dialogue during the interviews. With the aid of examples from a study in Geneva, Switzerland, this article discusses the relevance, strengths, and limitations of this method in the field of neighbourhood research.
The Aesthetics of Garbage in Philip K. Dick’s
Authors: Simpson Ken
Published: June 2014

Abstract:

This article suggests that the proliferation of garbage in Philip K. Dick’s Martian Time-Slip is not descriptive or predictive but aesthetic. The use of trash in literary and visual art would have been familiar to Dick from the works of Beat poets and assemblage artists circulating in the San Francisco area during the late 1950s and early 1960s, but the specific garbage aesthetic of the novel is based on two principles: the accumulation of found objects and the sacred grotesque, including its suggestion of renewal by inversion. The first principle is inseparable from Dick’s analysis of consumer capitalism, while the second highlights the playful inversion of religious imagery and the possibility of renewal arising from the materiality, debasement, and incoherence of trash. While Dick anticipates postmodern trash aesthetics, especially in the framing of accumulated found objects, his emphasis on the sacred grotesque distinguishes his garbage texts from the “palimpsestic” representations of garbage described by Robert Stam and others.
“You See, Children Were the—theRaison D’être”: The Reproductive Futurism of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’sHerland
Authors: Evans Lynne
Published: June 2014

Abstract:

This article argues that Herland, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s influential 1915 utopia, ratifies and works to renew the ideologies of a white, racist, male-dominated heteronormativity through the body of the child. Through its obsession with the child, Herland enacts the “reproductive futurism” that queer theorist Lee Edelman recognizes as the heavily guarded, central constituting principle of heteronormative culture. Gilman’s text does not provide a new vision for America; rather, Herland enacts a renewal of the same constitutive fears that heteronormative culture seeks to displace onto the body of the child. Gilman’s text is, thereby, deeply implicated in the very patriarchal subjugation the author wishes to subvert and in the larger reproduction of a racist and heterosexist hegemony.
Congestion Mitigation at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City
Authors: Jacquillat Alexandre , Odoni Amedeo R.
Published: June 2014

With the significant growth in air traffic experienced during the past few decades, airport capacity has become an increasingly costly constraint. Flight delays reached record-high levels in 2007, with a nationwide impact estimated at more than $30 billion for that calendar year. At airports where capacity expansion and improvements in operational efficiency are not feasible, congestion could be mitigated in the short and medium terms through implementation of schedule coordination mechanisms. Such measures essentially reduce peak hour scheduling levels; however, these measures have been criticized for the constraints that they might create on airline scheduling. This paper presents a schedule coordination model that reduces flight delays while minimizing interference with airline scheduling and then applies the model to one of the most congested U.S. airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The analysis suggests that it may be possible to reduce peak arrival and departure delays by more than 30% and 50%, respectively, without eliminating flights, aircraft connections, or passenger connections and without modifying the scheduled departure and arrival times of any flight by more than 30 min. These results underscore the potential of schedule coordination as a means of achieving substantial congestion cost savings at the busiest U.S. airports. Opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of such a mechanism are discussed.
Quantifying accuracy and precision of diffusion MR tractography of the corticospinal tract in brain tumors
Authors: Mandelli Maria Luisa , Berger Mitchel S. , Bucci Monica , Berman Jeffrey I. , Amirbekian Bagrat , Henry Roland G.
Published: June 2014

Object

The aim of this paper was to validate the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) model for delineation of the corticospinal tract using cortical and subcortical white matter electrical stimulation for the location of functional motor pathways.

Methods

The authors compare probabilistic versus deterministic DTI fiber tracking by reconstructing the pyramidal fiber tracts on preoperatively acquired DTI in patients with brain tumors. They determined the accuracy and precision of these 2 methods using subcortical stimulation points and the sensitivity using cortical stimulation points. The authors further explored the reliability of these methods by estimation of the potential that the found connections were due to a random chance using a novel neighborhood permutation method.

Results

The probabilistic tracking method delineated tracts that were significantly closer to the stimulation points and was more sensitive than deterministic DTI fiber tracking to define the tracts directed to the motor sites. However, both techniques demonstrated poor sensitivity to finding lateral motor regions.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of the validation and quantification of preoperative fiber tracking with the aid of electrophysiological data during the surgery. The poor sensitivity of DTI to delineate lateral motor pathways reported herein suggests that DTI fiber tracking must be used with caution and only as adjunctive data to established methods for motor mapping.
Clinical and radiological outcomes following traumatic Grade 1 and 2 vertebral artery injuries: a 10-year retrospective analysis from a Level 1 trauma center
Authors: Scott William W. , Sharp Steven , Figueroa Stephen A. , Madden Christopher J. , Rickert Kim L.
Published: June 2014

Object

Screening of blunt vertebral artery (VA) injuries has increased since research has shown that they occur at a higher incidence than originally reported. Grade 1 and 2 injuries are the most common form of blunt VA injury. Proper screening, management, and follow-up of these injuries remain controversial. In this report, imaging, progression, treatment, and outcomes of Grade 1 and 2 blunt VA injuries were analyzed to better define their natural history and to establish a rational management plan based upon their risk of progression and cerebral infarct.

Methods

A retrospective review of all blunt traumatic carotid artery and VA injuries from December 2003 to April 2013 was performed. For the purposes of this report, focus was given to Grade 1 and 2 VA injuries. Grade 1 injuries were defined as a vessel lumen stenosis of less than 25%, and Grade 2 injuries were defined as vessel lumen stenosis between 25% and 50%. Demographic information, radiological imaging, number of images performed per individual, length of radiological follow-up, radiological outcome at the end of follow-up, treatment provided, and documentation of stroke or transient ischemic attack were recorded.

Results

One hundred eighty-seven Grade 1 and 2 VA injuries in 143 patients were identified. Of these 143 patients, 120 with 152 Grade 1 or 2 blunt VA injuries were available for follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up was 40 days. Repeat imaging showed that 148 (97.4%) Grade 1 or 2 blunt VA injuries were stable, improved, or resolved on final follow-up imaging. Seventy-nine patients (66%) were treated with aspirin, whereas 35 patients (29%) received no treatment. The remaining patients were treated with other antiplatelet agents or anticoagulant medication. Neuroimaging demonstrated 2 cases (1.7%) with posterior circulation infarcts that were believed to be related to their blunt VA injuries, both of which occurred during the initial hospitalization and within the first 4 days after injury.

Conclusions

Although follow-up imaging showed progressive worsening without radiological improvement in only a small number of patients with low-grade blunt VA injuries, these findings did not correlate with adverse clinical outcome. The posttraumatic cerebral infarction rate of 1.7% may be overestimated, and the use of acetylsalicylic acid or other antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication did not correlate with radiological changes or rate of cerebral infarction. While these data suggest the possibility that these low-grade VA injuries may not require treatment or follow-up, future prospective studies are needed to make conclusive changes related to management.
Tumor extravasation following a cement augmentation procedure for vertebral compression fracture in metastatic spinal disease
Authors: Cruz Juan Pablo , Sahgal Arjun , Whyne Cari , Fehlings Michael G. , Smith Roger
Published: June 2014

Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) has been proven to be safe and effective in the management of pathological vertebral compression fracture (VCF) due to metastatic spinal disease. The most common serious complications related to BKP include cement extravasation and new fractures at adjacent levels. Although the potential for “tumor extravasation” has been discussed as a potential iatrogenic complication, it has yet to be confirmed. The authors report on 2 cases of tumor extravasation following BKP, which they base on an observed unusual rapid tumor spread pattern into the adjacent tissues. They postulate that by increasing the vertebral body internal pressure and disrupting the tissues during balloon inflation and cement application, a soft-tissue tumor can be forced beyond the vertebral bony boundaries through pathological cortical defects. This phenomenon can manifest radiologically as subligamentous spread and/or extension into venous sinusoids, resulting in epidural venous plexus involvement, with subsequent tumor migration into the adjacent vertebral segments. Accordingly, the authors advise caution in using BKP when significant epidural tumor is present. The complication they encountered has caused them to modify their preference such that they now first use radiosurgery and subsequently BKP to ensure the target is appropriately treated, and they are currently developing possible modifications of procedural technique to reduce the risk.
Estimating EQ-5D values from the Neck Disability Index and numeric rating scales for neck and arm pain
Authors: Carreon Leah Y. , Bratcher Kelly R. , Das Nandita , Nienhuis Jacob B. , Glassman Steven D.
Published: June 2014

Object

The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and numeric rating scales (0 to 10) for neck pain and arm pain are widely used cervical spine disease–specific measures. Recent studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between the SF-6D and the NDI such that using a simple linear regression allows for the estimation of an SF-6D value from the NDI alone. Due to ease of administration and scoring, the EQ-5D is increasingly being used as a measure of utility in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study is to determine if the EQ-5D values can be estimated from commonly available cervical spine disease–specific health-related quality of life measures, much like the SF-6D.

Methods

The EQ-5D, NDI, neck pain score, and arm pain score were prospectively collected in 3732 patients who presented to the authors' clinic with degenerative cervical spine disorders. Correlation coefficients for paired observations from multiple time points between the NDI, neck pain and arm pain scores, and EQ-5D were determined. Regression models were built to estimate the EQ-5D values from the NDI, neck pain, and arm pain scores.

Results

The mean age of the 3732 patients was 53.3 ± 12.2 years, and 43% were male. Correlations between the EQ-5D and the NDI, neck pain score, and arm pain score were statistically significant (p < 0.0001), with correlation coefficients of −0.77, −0.62, and −0.50, respectively. The regression equation 0.98947 + (−0.00705 × NDI) + (−0.00875 × arm pain score) + (−0.00877 × neck pain score) to predict EQ-5D had an R-square of 0.62 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.146. The model using NDI alone had an R-square of 0.59 and a RMSE of 0.150. The model using the individual NDI items had an R-square of 0.46 and an RMSE of 0.172. The correlation coefficient between the observed and estimated EQ-5D scores was 0.79. There was no statistically significant difference between the actual EQ-5D score (0.603 ± 0.235) and the estimated EQ-5D score (0.603 ± 0.185) using the NDI, neck pain score, and arm pain score regression model. However, rounding off the coefficients to fewer than 5 decimal places produced less accurate results.

Conclusions

The regression model estimating the EQ-5D from the NDI, neck pain score, and arm pain score accounted for 60% of the variability of the EQ-5D with a relatively large RMSE. This regression model may not be sufficient to accurately or reliably estimate actual EQ-5D values.
Attitude and Impact of Perceived Depression in the Workplace
Authors: Wang Yuan-Pang , Gorenstein Clarice
Published: June 2014

Information concerning the occurrence and consequences of depression in the workplace is scarce. This study estimates how workers perceive depression, to investigate depression-related disabilities, and management of depression in the workplace. This investigation is based on a cross-sectional web-based survey of 1,000 workers recruited from online sources. The participants were Brazilian workers, aged 16–64 years, current workers and managers, or who have worked within the past year. Subjects answered a 13-item questionnaire about depression, its related consequences in the workplace, and available resources to handle depression. Common symptoms attributable to depression were crying, loss of interest, and sadness. Almost one in five participants reported having ever been labeled by a doctor/medical professional as suffering from depression. However, the majority of ever-depressed workers (73.5%) remained working. Performance-related impairments were reported by around 60% of depressed workers who continued working. Over half of them also complained about cognitive symptoms (concentration difficulties, indecisiveness, forgetfulness). One in three workers had taken off work due to depression (mean 65.7 out-of-role days), with these periods being lengthier for men than women. Managers underestimated the number of days out-of-role (29.5 days). The findings suggested that identification and management of symptoms of depression should be set as a priority in worker’s health care.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Boron-Modified TiO2 Nanocrystals
Authors: Carlucci Claudia , Scremin Barbara , Sibillano Teresa , Giannini Cinzia , Filippo Emanuela , Perulli Patrizia , Capodilupo Agostina , Corrente Giuseppina , Ciccarella Giuseppe
Published: June 2014

An efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of TiO2:(B) nanorods, using titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP), benzyl alcohol as the solvent, together with boric acid and oleic acid as the additive reagents, has been developed. Chemical modification of TTIP by oleic acid was demonstrated as a rational strategy to tune the shape of TiO2 nanocrystals toward nanorod formation. The differently-shaped TiO2:(B) nanocrystals were characterized in detail by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen absorption-desorption. Oleic acid coordinated on the nanocrystal surface was removed by the reduction of its carboxyl group, and the photocatalytic activity of bare TiO2 nanocrystals, under visible light irradiation, was also evaluated. The synthesized TiO2 anatase nanorods exhibited a good photoactivity and completely degraded Rhodamine B solution within three hours.
Interaction of Natural Organic Matter with Layered Minerals: Recent Developments in Computational Methods at the Nanoscale
Authors: Greathouse Jeffery , Johnson Karen , Greenwell H.
Published: June 2014

The role of mineral surfaces in the adsorption, transport, formation, and degradation of natural organic matter (NOM) in the biosphere remains an active research area owing to the difficulties in identifying proper working models of both NOM and mineral phases present in the environment. The variety of aqueous chemistries encountered in the subsurface (e.g., oxic vs. anoxic, variable pH) further complicate this field of study. Recently, the advent of nanoscale probes such as X-ray adsorption spectroscopy and surface vibrational spectroscopy applied to study such complicated interfacial systems have enabled new insight into NOM-mineral interfaces. Additionally, due to increasing capabilities in computational chemistry, it is now possible to simulate molecular processes of NOM at multiple scales, from quantum methods for electron transfer to classical methods for folding and adsorption of macroparticles. In this review, we present recent developments in interfacial properties of NOM adsorbed on mineral surfaces from a computational point of view that is informed by recent experiments.
Effect of Structure on the Interactions between Five Natural Antimicrobial Compounds and Phospholipids of Bacterial Cell Membrane on Model Monolayers
Authors: Nowotarska Stella , Nowotarski Krzysztof , Friedman Mendel , Situ Chen
Published: June 2014

Monolayers composed of bacterial phospholipids were used as model membranes to study interactions of the naturally occurring phenolic compounds 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde, and the plant essential oil compounds carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and geraniol, previously found to be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms. The lipid monolayers consist of 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), 1,2-dihexa- decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (DPPG), and 1,1',2,2'-tetratetradecanoyl cardiolipin (cardiolipin). Surface pressure–area (π-A) and surface potential–area (Δψ-A) isotherms were measured to monitor changes in the thermodynamic and physical properties of the lipid monolayers. Results of the study indicated that the five compounds modified the three lipid monolayer structures by integrating into the monolayer, forming aggregates of antimicrobial –lipid complexes, reducing the packing effectiveness of the lipids, increasing the membrane fluidity, and altering the total dipole moment in the monolayer membrane model. The interactions of the five antimicrobial compounds with bacterial phospholipids depended on both the structure of the antimicrobials and the composition of the monolayers. The observed experimental results provide insight into the mechanism of the molecular interactions between naturally-occurring antimicrobial compounds and phospholipids of the bacterial cell membrane that govern activities.
Ampicillin-Ester Bonded Branched Polymers: Characterization, Cyto-, Genotoxicity and Controlled Drug-Release Behaviour
Authors: Oledzka Ewa , Sobczak Marcin , Nalecz-Jawecki Grzegorz , Skrzypczak Agata , Kolodziejski Waclaw
Published: June 2014

The development and characterization of novel macromolecular conjugates of ampicillin using branched biodegradable polymers has been described in this study. The conjugates have been prepared coupling the β-lactam antibiotic with branched polymer matrices based on the natural oligopeptide core. The cyto- and genotoxicity of the synthesized polymers were evaluated with a bacterial luminescence test, two protozoan assays and Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. The presence of a newly formed covalent bond between the drug and the polymer matrices was confirmed by 1H-NMR and FTIR studies. A drug content (15.6 and 10.2 mole %) in the macromolecular conjugates has been determined. The obtained macromolecular products have been subjected to further in vitro release studies. The total percentage of ampicillin released after 21 days of incubation was nearly 60% and 14% and this resulted from the different physicochemical properties of the polymeric matrices. This is the first report on the application of branched biodegradable polymeric matrices for the covalent conjugation of ampicillin. The obtained results showed that the synthesized macromolecular drug-conjugates might slowly release the active drug molecule and improve the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin.
Four New Species of Nepenthes L. (Nepenthaceae) from the Central Mountains of Mindanao, Philippines
Authors: Gronemeyer Thomas , Coritico Fulgent , Wistuba Andreas , Marwinski David , Gieray Tobias , Micheler Marius , Mey François , Amoroso Victor
Published: June 2014

Together with the islands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia), the Philippines are the main center of diversity for carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus, Nepenthes L. Nepenthes are the largest of all carnivorous plants, and the species with the biggest pitchers are capable of trapping and digesting small amphibians and even mammals. The central cordillera of Mindanao Island in the south of the Philippines is mostly covered with old, primary forest and is the largest remaining cohesive, untouched area of wilderness in the Philippines. In a recent field exploration of two areas of the central cordillera, namely Mount Sumagaya and a section of the Pantaron range, four new taxa of Nepenthes were discovered. These four remarkable new species, N. pantaronensis, N. cornuta, N. talaandig and N. amabilis, are described, illustrated and assessed.
Mapping Land Management Regimes in Western Ukraine Using Optical and SAR Data
Authors: Stefanski Jan , Kuemmerle Tobias , Chaskovskyy Oleh , Griffiths Patrick , Havryluk Vassiliy , Knorn Jan , Korol Nikolas , Sieber Anika , Waske Björn
Published: June 2014

The global demand for agricultural products is surging due to population growth, more meat-based diets, and the increasing role of bioenergy. Three strategies can increase agricultural production: (1) expanding agriculture into natural ecosystems; (2) intensifying existing farmland; or (3) recultivating abandoned farmland. Because agricultural expansion entails substantial environmental trade-offs, intensification and recultivation are currently gaining increasing attention. Assessing where these strategies may be pursued, however, requires improved spatial information on land use intensity, including where farmland is active and fallow. We developed a framework to integrate optical and radar data in order to advance the mapping of three farmland management regimes: (1) large-scale, mechanized agriculture; (2) small-scale, subsistence agriculture; and (3) fallow or abandoned farmland. We applied this framework to our study area in western Ukraine, a region characterized by marked spatial heterogeneity in management intensity due to the legacies from Soviet land management, the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the recent integration of this region into world markets. We mapped land management regimes using a hierarchical, object-based framework. Image segmentation for delineating objects was performed by using the Superpixel Contour algorithm. We then applied Random Forest classification to map land management regimes and validated our map using randomly sampled in-situ data, obtained during an extensive field campaign. Our results showed that farmland management regimes were mapped reliably, resulting in a final map with an overall accuracy of 83.4%. Comparing our land management regimes map with a soil map revealed that most fallow land occurred on soils marginally suited for agriculture, but some areas within our study region contained considerable potential for recultivation. Overall, our study highlights the potential for an improved, more nuanced mapping of agricultural land use by combining imagery of different sensors.
Applicability of Multi-Frequency Passive Microwave Observations and Data Assimilation Methods for Improving NumericalWeather Forecasting in Niger, Africa
Authors: Rasmy Mohamed , Koike Toshio , Li Xin
Published: June 2014

The development of satellite-based forecasting systems is one of the few affordable solutions for developing regions (e.g., West Africa) that cannot afford ground-based observation networks. Although low-frequency passive microwave data have been used extensively for land surface monitoring, the use of high-frequency passive microwave data that contain cloud information is very limited over land because of strong heterogeneous land surface emissions. The Coupled Atmosphere and Land Data Assimilation System (CALDAS) was developed by merging soil moisture information estimated from low-frequency data with corresponding high-frequency data to estimate cloud information and, thus, improve weather forecasting over Niger, West Africa. The results showed that the assimilated soil moisture and cloud distributions were reasonably comparable to satellite retrievals of soil moisture and cloud observations. However, assimilating soil moisture alone within a mesoscale model produced only marginal improvements in the forecast, whereas the assimilation of both soil moisture and cloud distributions improved the simulation of temperature and humidity profiles. Rainfall forecasts from CALDAS also correlated well with satellite retrievals. This indicates the potential use of CALDAS as a reliable forecasting tool for developing regions. Further developments of CALDAS and the inclusion of data from several other sensors will be researched in future studies.
Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus Infection of Small Ruminants: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Kumar Naveen , Maherchandani Sunil , Kashyap Sudhir , Singh Shoor , Sharma Shalini , Chaubey Kundan , Ly Hinh
Published: June 2014

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is caused by a Morbillivirus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. PPR is an acute, highly contagious and fatal disease primarily affecting goats and sheep, whereas cattle undergo sub-clinical infection. With morbidity and mortality rates that can be as high as 90%, PPR is classified as an OIE (Office International des Epizooties)-listed disease. Considering the importance of sheep and goats in the livelihood of the poor and marginal farmers in Africa and South Asia, PPR is an important concern for food security and poverty alleviation. PPR virus (PPRV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) are closely related Morbilliviruses. Rinderpest has been globally eradicated by mass vaccination. Though a live attenuated vaccine is available against PPR for immunoprophylaxis, due to its instability in subtropical climate (thermo-sensitivity), unavailability of required doses and insufficient coverage (herd immunity), the disease control program has not been a great success. Further, emerging evidence of poor cross neutralization between vaccine strain and PPRV strains currently circulating in the field has raised concerns about the protective efficacy of the existing PPR vaccines. This review summarizes the recent advancement in PPRV replication, its pathogenesis, immune response to vaccine and disease control. Attempts have also been made to highlight the current trends in understanding the host susceptibility and resistance to PPR.
Infection with Non-Lethal West Nile Virus Eg101 Strain Induces Immunity that Protects Mice against the Lethal West Nile Virus NY99 Strain
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , O'Connell Maile , Namekar Madhuri , Nerurkar Vivek
Published: June 2014

Herein we demonstrate that infection of mice with West Nile virus (WNV) Eg101 provides protective immunity against lethal challenge with WNV NY99. Our data demonstrated that WNV Eg101 is largely non-virulent in adult mice when compared to WNV NY99. By day 6 after infection, WNV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies were detected in the serum of all WNV Eg101 infected mice. Plaque reduction neutralization test data demonstrated that serum from WNV Eg101 infected mice neutralized WNV Eg101 and WNV NY99 strains with similar efficiency. Three weeks after infection, WNV Eg101 immunized mice were challenged subcutaneously or intracranially with lethal dose of WNV NY99 and observed for additional three weeks. All the challenged mice were protected against disease and no morbidity and mortality was observed in any mice. In conclusion, our data for the first time demonstrate that infection of mice with WNV Eg101 induced high titers of WNV specific IgM and IgG antibodies, and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies, and the resulting immunity protected all immunized animals from both subcutaneous and intracranial challenge with WNV NY99. These observations suggest that WNV Eg101 may be a suitable strain for the development of a vaccine in humans against virulent strains of WNV.
Enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution of eosin Y-sensitized reduced graphene oxide through a simple photoreaction
Authors: Zhang Weiying , Li Yuexiang , Peng Shaoqin , Cai Xiang
Published: June 2014

A graphene oxide (GO) solution was irradiated by a Xenon lamp to form reduced graphene oxide (RGO). After irradiation, the epoxy, the carbonyl and the hydroxy groups are gradually removed from GO, resulting in an increase of sp2 π-conjugated domains and defect carbons with holes for the formed RGO. The RGO conductivity increases due to the restoration of sp2 π-conjugated domains. The photocatalytic activity of EY-RGO/Pt for hydrogen evolution was investigated with eosin Y (EY) as a sensitizer of the RGO and Pt as a co-catalyst. When the irradiation time is increased from 0 to 24 h the activity rises, and then reaches a plateau. Under optimum conditions (pH 10.0, 5.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 EY, 10 μg mL−1 RGO), the maximal apparent quantum yield (AQY) of EY-RGO24/Pt for hydrogen evolution rises up to 12.9% under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm), and 23.4% under monochromatic light irradiation at 520 nm. Fluorescence spectra and transient absorption decay spectra of the EY-sensitized RGO confirm that the electron transfer ability of RGO increases with increasing irradiation time. The adsorption quantity of EY on the surface of RGO enhances, too. The two factors ultimately result in an enhancement of the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over EY-RGO/Pt with increasing irradiation time. A possible mechanism is discussed.
Molecular ecological tools to decipher the role of our microbial mass in obesity
Authors: Hermes G.D.A. , Zoetendal E.G. , Smidt H.
Published: June 2014

After birth, our gastrointestinal (GI) tract is colonised by a highly complex assemblage of microbes, collectively termed the GI microbiota, that develops intimate interactions with our body. Recent evidence indicates that the GI microbiota and its products may contribute to the development of obesity and related diseases. This, coupled with the current worldwide epidemic of obesity, has moved microbiome research into the spotlight of attention. Although the main cause of obesity and its associated metabolic complications is excess caloric intake compared with expenditure, differences in GI tract microbial ecology between individuals might be an important biomarker, mediator or new therapeutic target. This can be investigated using a diverse set of complementary so called -omics technologies, such as 16S ribosomal RNA gene-targeted composition profiling, metabolomics, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics. This review aims to describe the different molecular approaches and their contributions to our understanding of the role of the GI microbiota in host energy homeostasis. Correspondingly, we highlight their respective strengths, but also try to create awareness for their specific limitations. However, it is currently still unclear which bacterial groups play a role in the development of obesity in humans. This might partly be explained by the heterogeneity in genotype, lifestyle, diet and the complex ethology of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders (OAMD). Nevertheless, recent research on this matter has shown a conceptual shift by focusing on more homogenous subpopulations, through the use of both anthropometric (weight, total body fat) as well as biochemical variables (insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia) to define categories. Combined with technological advances, recent data suggests that an OAMD associated microbiota can be characterised by a potential pro-inflammatory composition, with less potential for the production of short chain fatty acids and butyrate in particular.
Writing from and with Community Knowledge
Authors: Ghiso María Paula , Martínez-Álvarez Patricia , Dernikos Bessie P.
Published: June 2014

This chapter draws from a primarily qualitative study with two first grade dual language classrooms over the course of a semester. The authors detail how multimodal writing engagements provide an avenue for Latino young children, whose language and knowledge is often devalued in schools, to reframe their community experiences at the center of academic inquiry. Through the medium of photography, children are able to enact agency to position the multiple contexts they navigate—marked by linguistic dynamism and diverse transnational experiences—as resources that could expand conceptions of school-based literacy practices.
Error or Strength?
Authors: Turner Kristen Hawley
Published: June 2014

A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project has indicated that teens are writing more than ever and that much of this writing is done in digital spaces. However, digitalk, the informal language used, often breaks from Standard English, and adults are concerned about the effects of digitalk on literacy skills in general. This chapter reports research that focuses on what language teens use in their digitalk and why they make the choices they do. With analysis of digital writing from 81 adolescents, researchers identified 18 conventions of digitalk. In a second phase of research, teens were surveyed and interviewed about their linguistic choices. Findings indicate that adolescents attend to audience, and they consider personal voice in their digital writing. Teens develop these competencies in a community of writers – outside of school.
Producing Pathways to Proficient Pronunciation with Learner-Designed Pronunciation Stations
Authors: Perren James M.
Published: June 2014

The chapter reports on a study examining learning stations designed by English as a second language students in order to improve pronunciation. This on-going Design-Based Research study focuses on promoting, sustaining, and understanding an educational innovation (Bell, 2004). The longitudinal study identifies favorable and unfavorable aspects of learner-designed pronunciation station teaching. Results extend previous iterations of data collection and analysis of student assignments with reference to technology resources and online survey results as part of strategic (re)designing of the activity. This pedagogy fosters student responsibility for learning and utilizing learning opportunities they create. Discussion is provided about how poststructural theory corresponds with design-based research as data collection and analysis methodology to illuminate discourses of autonomy as agency, motivation and investment, and resistance. Design-based research frames the postmodern and action oriented design based research goals of “examining the assumptions underlying contemporary educational programs and practices” (Reeves, McKenney, & Herrington, 2011, pp. 60-61).