bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and Triclopyr, Alone and in Select Mixtures for Poison Ivy Control
Authors: Wehtje Glenn , Gilliam Charles H.
Published: August 2012

Dermatitis from poison ivy is a significant health problem. Considerable effort is devoted to the control of this invasive and virulent weed in urban areas. Glyphosate, triclopyr, 2,4-D, a 1 : 1 mixture of glyphosate and 2,4-D, and a 9 : 1 mixture of glyphosate and triclopyr were evaluated for poison ivy control. Each of these three herbicides and two mixtures were applied at nine or ten rates, which ranged in phytotoxicity from none to death. Poison ivy plants had been propagated and container-grown. Percent control, as determined from plant fresh weight reduction, was determined at 1 and 4 mo after treatment (MAT). Data were subjected to ANOVA followed by nonlinear regression. Rates required for 95% control at 1 and 4 MAT and the associated costs were determined for each of the three herbicides and two mixtures. Acceptable control (i.e., ≥ 95%) at 1 and 4 MAT could be obtained at a much lower cost with either triclopyr or 2,4-D than with either glyphosate alone or with the two glyphosate-containing mixtures. Nonlinear regression also was used to evaluate whether the two mixtures were interactive (i.e., synergistic or antagonistic) or not (i.e., additive). Glyphosate plus triclopyr was synergistic for control at both 1 and 4 MAT. Glyphosate plus 2,4-D was synergistic for control at 4 MAT only. However, for both mixtures, synergism was only evident at rates that controlled poison ivy ≤ 80%. Both mixtures were noninteractive at rates required for acceptable control.
Influence of flow conditions on scour hole shape for pier groups
Authors: Chreties Christian , Teixeira Luis , Simarro Gonzalo
Published: August 2012

Local scour at alluvial bridge foundations is caused by the interference of the flow with the structure. The usual laboratory experiments set constant flow conditions and allow local scour to develop until the equilibrium stage, which can take several days. However, as long as the geometry of the scour hole is independent of the flow conditions used to obtain a given scour depth, faster experimental methods are available in the literature. In this paper the influence of flow conditions on the shape of the scour hole is investigated experimentally for different configurations of pile groups with and without pile cap. It is found that, whenever no pile cap is present, the angle of repose of the sediment dominates the geometry of the scour hole, regardless of flow conditions. On the contrary, in the presence of a pile cap, the geometry of the scour hole strongly depends on flow conditions.
The Science and Practice of Mentoring in Psychology Doctoral Training
Authors: Lundgren Jennifer D. , Orsillo Susan M.
Published: August 2012

Mentorship in psychology doctoral training is considered by many professionals to be an important mechanism for student learning and development and to be associated with student career outcomes. To date, however, little is known about the empirical basis for mentorship in psychology doctoral training. In this article, we discuss the opportunities for mentorship and developing mentorship competence within the context of formalized doctoral training programs; we review the literature and evidence base for mentorship in general and effective psychology doctoral mentoring in particular; and we examine the barriers to evidence-based mentoring and offer suggestions for building an evidence base using the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement as a model. Finally, we offer reflections on our personal mentoring experiences.
Childhood Experiences and Adult Beliefs in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Evaluating a Specific Etiological Model
Authors: Careau Yves , O’Connor Kieron P. , Turgeon Lyse , Freeston Mark H.
Published: August 2012

Cognitive accounts of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) propose that an individual’s early experiences contribute to the development of different belief domains, which in turn represent fertile ground for the development of the disorder (e.g., Salkovskis, Shafran, Rachman, & Freeston, 1999). This study examined the proximal relationship between specific, narrowly defined childhood experiences (CEs) and distinct adult OCD-related beliefs (Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-87 [OBQ-87]) through the self-reports of 83 participants with OCD and 213 unselected student participants. CEs variables were operationalized via theoretical groupings of items on an early experience questionnaire (QEE) relevant to distinct OBQ belief domains. These proximal relationships were assessed according to predictions from both a specific and a nonspecific vulnerability hypothesis. Correlational analyses were supportive of both but mostly of a nonspecific vulnerability model. Results are discussed regarding the understanding of the possible multideterministic pathways to OCD development.
“Hollywood Nurses” in West Germany: Biographies, Self-Images, and Experiences of Academically Trained Nurses after 1945
Authors: Kreutzer Susanne
Published: August 2012

The School of Nursing at Heidelberg University was founded in 1953 on the initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation to generate new, scientifically trained nursing elite to advance the professionalization of nursing in West Germany. The “American” concept met massive resistance. Its “superior nursing training” was seen as creating “Hollywood nurses”—a threat to the traditional Christian understanding of good, caring nursing. Intense social conflicts also caused problems with other groups of nurses. The school nevertheless played a very important role as a “cadre academy” in the history of professionalization. Many of the first German professors in the nursing sciences trained or underwent further training in Heidelberg.
Disinfection by-products management in high quality recycled water
Authors: Farré M. J. , Doederer K. , Gernjak W. , Poussade Y. , Weinberg H.
Published: August 2012

During the production of high quality recycled water (HQRW) by means of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration, chloramines (used to avoid biofouling) can generate disinfection by-products (DBPs) which could ultimately end up in the product water. This paper compares the fate of DBPs and organic halogen content generated during the production of HQRW under two different disinfection strategies employed prior to RO filtration: (i) in line-formed chloramines with a short contact time between secondary effluent and disinfectant versus (ii) pre-formed chloramines with a long contact time between secondary effluent and disinfectant. In general, pre-formed chloramines formed less trihalomethanes (THMs) in comparison to in line-formed chloramines even after a longer contact time. However, pre-formed chloramines still generated iodo-THMs (I-THMs) which are of concern since they are suspected to be more toxic than their chlorinated and brominated analogues. I-THMs were very effectively reduced by the advanced oxidation process placed after the membrane process. Chloramines also form other halogenated by-products whose identity is unknown. In this study, more than 95% of total organic halogen formed by chloramines was rejected by the RO membranes although the reduction of targeted low molecular weight DBPs was only around 50%. Specific rejections for individual DBPs vary, ranging from low for haloacetonitriles and high for haloketones.
Employing multi-criteria decision analysis to select sustainable point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment systems
Authors: Hamouda M. A. , Anderson W. B. , Huck P. M.
Published: August 2012

Point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) drinking water treatment systems are gaining prominence, particularly from the point-of-view of technical appropriateness and consumer acceptance. They are becoming an increasingly viable alternative for small water treatment systems or in individual homes. However, sustainability concerns have been voiced in a number of studies investigating these devices. In this paper, sustainability is examined with respect to the fulfillment of treatment systems for a set of technical, economic, environmental and socio-cultural objectives. Consequently, the use of a hierarchy of sustainability indicators to compare various POU and POE water treatment alternatives is proposed. The indicators' definitions, as well as calculation and normalization methods are explained. The paper also presents a decision model that is capable of selecting the most sustainable treatment option. The model employs the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to help in the analysis of indicators' relative importance with regard to sustainability and to develop the indicators and criteria weights required for aggregating a sustainability score. The generated sustainability scores essentially level the playing field when comparing POU and POE systems for technical and economic appropriateness for a particular water treatment case, in addition to incorporating more difficult to quantify system traits, such as environmental and socio-cultural sustainability.
Hydraulic transients in plumbing systems
Authors: Lee Juneseok , Lohani Vinod K. , Dietrich Andrea M. , Loganathan G. V.
Published: August 2012

This study addresses the issue of pressure transients triggered within premise plumbing or a municipal water distribution system and their potential impact on drinking water service lines and plumbing systems. An instrumented experimental plumbing system was designed to examine the effects of a range of pressures commonly encountered in household plumbing systems. A transient triggered from within the household plumbing system structurally taxed the experimental service line and vertical plumbing sections but did not result in negative pressures. Taken together, these experimental results and observations of gaseous cavitation phenomenon with a high definition video camera demonstrated that a hydraulic transient triggered from a water main resulted in extremely low pressures events (up to −68.95 kpa) in the service line. This low pressure would be sufficient to allow the possible intrusion of microbial and chemical contaminants into the service lines. Homeowners and water utilities should be made aware of the importance of maintaining the structural integrity of their pipe systems and protecting the hydraulic integrity of water systems.
Biodegradation of MIB, geosmin and microcystin-LR in sand columns containing Taihu lake sediment
Authors: DeVries Stephanie L. , Liu Wenjie , Wan Neng , Zhang Pengfei , Li Xiqing
Published: August 2012

Lake Taihu, located in southeast Jiangsu Province, China, is an important drinking water resource serving almost 2 million residents nearby. In recent years, eutrophication has led to more frequent cyanobacterial algae blooms whose metabolites, including 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), 1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR), can be both toxic and unpalatable. Traditional treatment methods are expensive and often poorly remove these compounds. Since biodegradation has shown promise, the removal of MIB, geosmin and MC-LR in columns containing a mixture of quartz sand and Taihu lake bed sediment was tested. Results show that 24, 38.5 and 100% removal of MIB, geosmin and MC-LR, respectively, can be achieved at a 1 m d–1 flow rate through 30 cm long columns containing 10% Taihu sediment. Biodegradation rates derived from one-dimensional transport modeling were used to predict the performance of 2 m filtration beds of similar composition. The results indicate that satisfactory removal of MIB, geosmin and MC-LR can be achieved by this method.
Enrichment of arsenite oxidizing bacteria under autotrophic conditions and the isolation and characterization of facultative chemolithoautotrophic arsenite oxidizing bacteria for removal of arsenic from groundwater
Authors: Ai L. Nguyen , Sato A. , Inoue D. , Sei K. , Soda S. , Ike M.
Published: August 2012

Arsenic contamination in groundwater has caused severe health problems throughout the world. Developing cost-effective processes for arsenic removal is an emerging issue. Because As(III) is predominant in groundwater and is more difficult to remove than As(V) is, oxidation of As(III) to As(V) is necessary to improve overall arsenic removal. This study was undertaken to enrich arsenite oxidizing bacteria under autotrophic conditions and to isolate and characterize facultative chemolithoautotrophic arsenite oxidizing bacteria (CAOs) that can oxidize As(III) effectively to As(V). An enrichment culture which adapted wide As(III) concentrations and completely oxidized 12 mM As(III) within 4 days under autotrophic conditions was established and maintained. Among 10 isolated strains, 6 strains, B1, B2, C, D, E1 and E2 belonging to β-Proteobacteria, were facultative CAOs and contained aoxB genes encoding the arsenite oxidase large subunit. Furthermore, they displayed various As(III) oxidation capabilities: B1, B2, E1 and E2 efficiently oxidized 1–10 mM As(III). The others showed efficient oxidation at 1–5 mM As(III), suggesting the coexistence of facultative CAOs with various As(III) oxidation capabilities in the enrichment. These results suggest that constructed enrichment and strains B1, B2, E1 and E2 can be useful for the bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater.
N- and Cα-Methylation in Biologically Active Peptides: Synthesis, Structural and Functional Aspects
Authors: Sagan Sandrine , Karoyan Philippe , Lequin Olivier , Chassaing Gerard , Lavielle Solange
Published: August 2012

Numerous backbone constraints can be used to develop pseudopeptides or pseudomimetics of biologically active peptides. Among those, N- and Cα-methyl amino acids that can be incorporated by solidphase peptide synthesis in a bioactive sequence represent important tools to restrictφ and ψ angles of peptide backbone. This review will focus on the chemical syntheses of N- and Cα-methyl amino acids, their effects on peptide conformation and structure, and their role on the peptide stability towards enzymatic degradation and on the biological activities of the resulting analogues.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors: Design, Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Implications for Cancer
Authors: Marson Charles M.
Published: August 2012

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl groups from the tails of lysine residues of histone protein in nuclear chromatin and also from acetylated sites in non-histone proteins. HDACs and histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are major influences on the level of cellular protein acetylation, and an imbalance in acetylation levels, particularly under-acetylated (hypoacetylated) histone protein has been associated with precancerous or malignant states. Consequently, small molecule inhibitors of HDACs have been synthesised and some now form a newly emerging class of anti-cancer agents that can regulate transcription and inhibit proliferation of cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis, among other major biological phenomena. The different mechanism(s) of action of HDAC inhibitors compared to conventional anti-neoplastic agents provides a possibility that HDAC inhibitors may be effective for refractory cancers. Accordingly, a number of programs for the development of HDAC inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs have been initiated. This review highlights recent developments in the design, synthesis and biological properties of HDAC inhibitors in the context of potential cancer therapy.
Inhibition of Carbonic Anhydrase IX: A New Strategy Against Cancer
Authors: Winum Jean-Yves , Scozzafava Andrea , Montero Jean-Louis , Supuran Claudiu T.
Published: August 2012

Of the thirteen active carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes, the transmembrane isoform CA IX has been shown to be linked with carcinogenesis. CA IX presents an ectopic expression in a multitude of carcinomas derived from cervix, uteri, kidney, lung, oesophagus, breast, colon, etc., contrasting with its restricted expression in normal tissues, namely in the epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been demonstrated that this membrane-bound CA is strongly overexpressed in hypoxic tumors, participating in tumor cell environment acidosis and contributing to malignant progression and poor treatment outcome. Targeting CA IX could thus be an important means of controlling cancer disease. Modulation of extracellular tumor pH via inhibition of CA IX activity represents a promising approach to novel anticancer therapies. Much attention has recently been paid to the CA IX inhibitors drug design, and efforts have been made to obtain isozyme IX inhibitors, with putative applications as antitumor drugs/diagnostic agents. This review will focus on the different CA IX inhibitors described in the literature which could represent excellent potential as candidate therapeutic agents in cancer chemotherapy.
Aromatase: The Enzyme and Its Inhibition
Authors: Banting Lee , Ahmed Sabbir
Published: August 2012

The genetic control, mechanism of action and inhibition of aromatase for potential therapeutic benefits in the arena of hormone dependent illness continues to be of considerable interest. The work presented here concentrates on recent advances in the mechanistic aspects of the aromatase enzyme and the nature of the chemical entities that lead to its inhibition.
STAT3 as a Therapeutic Target for Glioblastoma
Authors: Liu Yan , Li Chenglong , Lin Jiayuh
Published: August 2012

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor. Despite advances in surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, prognosis remains very poor. Accordingly, recent studies have been focused on the aberrant signal transduction pathways in glioblastoma. Many patient derived primary glioblastomas and cell lines express constitutively activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). Here we focused on the recent progresses regarding to the roles of STAT3 in glioblastoma and glioblastoma stem cells (GBM-SCs), the dysregulation of STAT3 in glioblastoma, and targeting STAT3 for glioblastoma therapy.
Carbothermic reduction kinetics of ilmenite concentrates catalyzed by sodium silicate and microwave-absorbing characteristics of reductive products
Authors: Li Wei , Peng Jinhui , Guo Shenghui , Zhang Libo , Chen Guo , Xia Hongying
Published: August 2012

Carbothermic reduction kinetics of ilmenite concentrates catalyzed by sodium
silicate was investigated; the reduction degree of ilmenite concentrates
reduction reaction was deduced as. R = (4(16y+56x)(?W? - fA-PW))/(7(16y +
56x + 112)). Results show that reaction activation energy of initial stage
and later stage is 36.45 kJ/mol and 135.14kJ/mol, respectively. There is a
great change for reduction rate at temperatures of 1100 ?C and 1150 ?C; the
catalysis effect and great change of reduction rate were evaluated by TG and
DSC curves of sodium silicate. Microwave-absorbing characteristics of
reduction products were measured by the method of microwave cavity
perturbation. It is found that microwave absorbing characteristics of
reduction products obtained at temperatures of 900 ?C, 1100 ?C and 1150 ?C
have great changes, combined XRD characterization, explaining the formation
and accumulation of reduction product Fe, and great changes of microwave
absorbing characteristics were due to the decrease of the content of
ilmenite concentrates.
Evidence of Gene-Gene Interaction and Age-at-Diagnosis Effects in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Howson Joanna M.M. , Cooper Jason D. , Smyth Deborah J. , Walker Neil M. , Stevens Helen , She Jin-Xiong , Eisenbarth George S. , Rewers Marian , Todd John A. , Akolkar Beena , Concannon Patrick , Erlich Henry A. , Julier Cécile , Morahan Grant , Nerup Jørn , Nierras Concepcion , Pociot Flemming , Rich Stephen S. ,   and the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium
Published: August 2012

The common genetic loci that independently influence the risk of type 1 diabetes have largely been determined. Their interactions with age-at-diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, sex, or the major susceptibility locus, HLA class II, remain mostly unexplored. A large collection of more than 14,866 type 1 diabetes samples (6,750 British diabetic individuals and 8,116 affected family samples of European descent) were genotyped at 38 confirmed type 1 diabetes-associated non-HLA regions and used to test for interaction of association with age-at-diagnosis, sex, and HLA class II genotypes using regression models. The alleles that confer susceptibility to type 1 diabetes at interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL2/4q27 (rs2069763) and renalase, FAD-dependent amine oxidase (RNLS)/10q23.31 (rs10509540), were associated with a lower age-at-diagnosis (P = 4.6 × 10−6 and 2.5 × 10−5, respectively). For both loci, individuals carrying the susceptible homozygous genotype were, on average, 7.2 months younger at diagnosis than those carrying the protective homozygous genotypes. In addition to protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22), evidence of statistical interaction between HLA class II genotypes and rs3087243 at cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)/2q33.2 was obtained (P = 7.90 × 10−5). No evidence of differential risk by sex was obtained at any loci (P ≥ 0.01). Statistical interaction effects can be detected in type 1 diabetes although they provide a relatively small contribution to our understanding of the familial clustering of the disease.
Glycemic Variability in the Use of Point-of-Care Glucose Meters
Authors: Hellman Richard
Published: August 2012

In Brief

Point-of-care (POC) glucose meters are an essential part of diabetes care, but if their results are inaccurate, patients can be harmed. This review discusses pitfalls in the use and analysis of results from POC glucose meters. It also offers guidance on when these devices should not be used.
The influence of the chelating/combustion agents on the structure and magnetic properties of zinc ferrite
Authors: Slatineanu Tamara , Diana Eliano , Nica Valentin , Oancea Victor , Caltun Ovidiu , Iordan Alexandra , Palamaru Mircea
Published: August 2012

The present study is reporting the influence of the chelating/combustion agents on the magnetic properties of Zn ferrite. Six chelating/combustion agents, citric acid, egg white, tartaric acid, glycine, glucose and urea, were used to obtain monophase zinc nanoferrite via a sol-gel auto-combustion method. The samples were subjected to a comparative study of structural features and magnetic properties by means of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Significant influence of fuel and combustion mode was observed in the magnetic behavior of as-obtained samples. Values of the structural parameters were discovered to vary as a function of fuel choice, and to obtain crystallite size between 38 and 62 nm, inversion degree between 0.239 and 0.807, lattice parameter between 8.4125 and 8.4432 Å. The optimization of sol-gel method synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticles by chosing the appropriate fuel is providing structural and magnetic properties of zinc nanoferrite as potential materials to be used in biomedical applications.
Catalytic reduction of sulfuric acid to sulfur dioxide
Authors: Balla Ancuţa , Marcu Cristina , Axente Damian , Borodi Gheorghe , Lazăr Diana
Published: August 2012

The reduction of H2SO4 to SO2 occurs with a relatively good efficiency only at high temperatures, in the presence of catalysts. Some experimental results, regarding conversion of sulfuric acid (96 wt.%) to sulfur dioxide and oxygen, are reported. The reduction has been performed at 800 – 900°C and atmospheric pressure, in a tubular quartz reactor. The following commercial catalysts were tested: Pd/Al2O3 (5 wt.% and 0.5 wt.% Pd), Pt/Al2O3 (0.1 wt.% Pt) and α-Fe2O3. The fresh and spent catalysts were characterized by X-Ray diffraction and BET method. The highest catalytic activity was determined for 5 wt.% Pd/Al2O3, a conversion of 80% being obtained for 5 hours time on stream, at 9 mL h−1 flow rate of 96 wt.% H2SO4. A conversion of 64% was determined for 0.5 wt.% Pd/Al2O3 and 0.1 wt.% Pt/Al2O3. For α-Fe2O3, a less expensive catalyst, a conversion of 61% for about 60 hours was obtained.
Enantioselective inhibition of immobilized acetylcholinesterase in biosensor determination of pesticides
Authors: Kaniewska Marzena , Jońca Justyna , Połeć Iwona , Sikora Tomasz , Marty Jean-Louis , Trojanowicz Marek
Published: August 2012

Chiral effects for the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by organophosphorus pesticides were investigated for insecticide malathion and malaoxon, which is a metabolic product of malathion in living organisms. Studies were carried out using a bienzymatic biosensor with immobilized acetylcholinesterase, choline oxidase, and with Prussian Blue used as a mediator. In both cases the R enantiomers accelerate acetylocholinesterase inhibition. The chiral effect in inhibition was much more pronounced in fast flow measurements than in batch measurements.
Analysis of trans fatty acids production and squalene variation during amaranth oil extraction
Authors: Ortega Jose , Martínez Zavala Arturo , Hernández Maribel , Díaz Reyes Joel
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the decay of squalene and the formation of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in the amaranth oil extracted with hexane with and without heat. Oils were analyzed by determining their chemical values, and the fatty acids were identified and quantified by using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, in the mid-region of 400–4000 cm−1, and gas chromatography. The FTIR analysis shows that two oil extracts (with and without heat) present a well-defined peak at 968 cm−1, which represents the trans double bonds. The quantified TFAs are
Spatial relationships between the pharmacophores of endomorphin-2: a comparative study of stereoisomers
Authors: Leitgeb Balázs
Published: August 2012

The spatial relationships between the pharmacophore elements were investigated in the case of four different stereoisomeric forms of opioid tetrapeptide, endomorphin-2, taking into account the L-D and cis-trans isomerisms. On the basis of distances and angles measured between the pharmacophoric points, a comparative analysis of conformational distributions was performed, applying a variety of distance-angle maps. The results obtained by this theoretical study indicated that the stereoisomers of endomorphin-2 could be distinguished from one another, based on the comparative analysis of distance-angle maps. Nevertheless, it could be concluded that this method proved to be suitable to examine the effects of L-D and cis-trans isomerisms on the spatial relationships of the pharmacophores of tetrapeptide.
Tuning the textural and surface properties of carbon xerogels to be used as supports for gold catalysts
Authors: Xu Xuelian , Zhu Junjiang , Faria Joaquim , Li Jinlin , Figueiredo José
Published: August 2012

Carbon xerogels (CXs) synthesized from resorcinol and formaldehyde under different pH conditions were investigated. Both the textural and surface properties of the CXs depend closely on the pH used in the synthesis procedure. Concerning the texture, the mesoporous surface area (Smeso) increases and the micropore volume (Vmicro) decreases as the pH increases; concerning the surface chemistry, surface oxygen functional groups were easier to be created (by O2) on CX synthesized at lower pH. Application of these CXs as support of gold catalysts was also studied. Results showed that the oxygen activated CX that was synthesized at moderate pH (i.e., pH 6.0) was the most favorable support for gold catalysts used in selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol by molecular oxygen in liquid phase, due to the adequate amounts of surface oxygen functional groups created on the surface.
Sea cruises as a new branch of the tourism industry
Authors: Ptaszycka-Jackowska Danuta
Published: August 2012

The article presents sea cruises - a form of tourism which is not very common in Poland but flourishes in other parts of the world. The author describes world and European fleets, cruise routes, ports visited and elements of cruise organization. She presents a detailed illustration of the most powerful European company - the Italian Costa Crociere (Costa Cruises) - which organizes cruises in Europe and all over the world.
Tourism in Moscow after the ‘Perestroika’ transformations
Authors: Aleksandrova Anna Y.
Published: August 2012

Moscow seems indeed to be a centre of world tourism. On the one hand, its tourism attractiveness for Russians and foreigners, as well as the wide opportunities it offers to its own inhabitants, stimulates trips for tourism and recreational purposes. On the other hand, it is determined by a number of historical, geographical, demographic, geopolitical, economic and socio-cultural factors.
Heat and Cold Waves in an Annual Cycle Air Temperatures in Warsaw (1951-2010)
Authors: Stopa-Boryczka Maria , Boryczka Jerzy , Kossowska-Cezak Urszula , Wawer Jolanta
Published: August 2012

Heat and Cold Waves in an Annual Cycle Air Temperatures in Warsaw (1951-2010)

Heat and cold waves in Warsaw (the Okęcie district) have been determined determined basing on daily average air temperature values in Warsaw (the Okęcie district), measured for 60 years between 1951 and 2010. Air temperature cycles, i.e. periods, amplitudes and phases have been determined by means of a sinusoidal regression method. Especially worth noting are 15 to 18-day long cycles of air temperature in given months (e.g. 16-day long cycles during 6 months: March, April, May, August, September, and October). Heat and cold waves result from interferences of cycles whose duration ranges from several to teen days of daily temperature values, and long-term cycles of average annual temperature.
Reliability Properties of Residual Life Time and Inactivity Time of Series and Parallel System
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Gandotra Neeraj , Bajaj Rakesh
Published: August 2012

Reliability Properties of Residual Life Time and Inactivity Time of Series and Parallel System

The concepts of residual life time and inactivity time are extensively used in reliability theory for modeling life time data. In this paper we prove some new results on stochastic comparisons of residual life time and inactivity time in series and parallel systems. These results are in addition to the existing results of Li & Zhang (2003) and Li & Lu (2003). We also present sufficient conditions for aging properties of the residual life time and inactivity life time of series and parallel systems. Some examples from Weibull and Gompertz distributions are provided to support the results as well.
A New Information Inequality and Its Application in Establishing Relation Among Various f-Divergence Measures
Authors: Jain K. , Saraswat Ram
Published: August 2012

A New Information Inequality and Its Application in Establishing Relation Among Various f-Divergence Measures

An Information inequality by using convexity arguments and Jensen inequality is established in terms of Csiszar f-divergence measures. This inequality is applied in comparing particular divergences which play a fundamental role in Information theory, such as Kullback-Leibler distance, Hellinger discrimination, Chi-square distance, J-divergences and others.
Diagonal Scaling of Ill-Conditioned Matrixes by Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Vajargah Behrouz , Moradi Mojtaba
Published: August 2012

Diagonal Scaling of Ill-Conditioned Matrixes by Genetic Algorithm

The purpose of this article is to use genetic algorithm for finding two invertible diagonal matricesD1andD2such that the scaled matrixD1AD2approaches to minimum condition number.
Does an Urban Teacher Residency Increase Student Achievement? Early Evidence From Boston
Authors: Papay John P. , West Martin R. , Fullerton Jon B. , Kane Thomas J.
Published: August 2012

Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) is an innovative practice-based preparation program in which candidates work alongside a mentor teacher for a year before becoming a teacher of record in the Boston Public Schools (BPS). The authors found that BTR graduates are more racially diverse than other BPS novices, more likely to teach math and science, and more likely to remain teaching in the district through Year 5. Initially, BTR graduates for whom value-added performance data are available are no more effective at raising student test scores than other novice teachers in English language arts and less effective in math. The effectiveness of BTR graduates in math improves rapidly over time, however, such that by their 4th and 5th years they outperform veteran teachers. Simulations of the program’s overall effect through retention and effectiveness suggest that it is likely to improve student achievement in the district only modestly over the long run.
Automatic snow surface roughness estimation using digital photos
Authors: Manninen Terhikki , Anttila Kati , Karjalainen Tuure , Lahtinen Panu
Published: August 2012

A surface roughness measurement system for snow is presented. It is based on a background board with scales on the edges and a digital camera. Analysis software is developed for automatic processing of images to produce calibrated profiles. The image analysis and calibration was fully automatic in >99% of the studied cases. In the others, the intensity adjustment or board detection needed manual intervention. Profile detection, control point picking and calibration always worked autonomously. The accuracy of the system depends on the photographing configuration, and is typically of the order of 0.1 mm vertically and 0.04 mm horizontally. The method tolerates relatively well cases of snowfall, traces of wiping the black background dry, uneven shading, reflected sunlight, reflected flash light, litter on the snow surface and a tilted plate. The repeatability of the system is at least 1%.
Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structures of 3,5-Bis(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamide and 3,5-Bis(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamide
Authors: Jasinski Jerry P. , Golen James A. , Samshuddin Seranthimata , Narayana Badiadka , Yathirajan Hemmige S.
Published: August 2012

Two new pyrazoline derivatives, 3,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydropyrazole-1-carboxamide (1) and 3,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydropyrazole-1-carbothioamide (2), were synthesized by reacting 4,4'-difluoro chalcone with semicarbazide hydrochloride and thiosemicarbazide in ethanolic sodium hydroxide solution. Both the compounds were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction data and supported by IR, NMR, and mass spectral data. In 1, crystal packing is stabilized by N–H…O hydrogen bonds and weak N–H...N, N–H…F and C–H…F intermolecular interactions. In 2, only weak N–H…F and N–H…S intermolecular interactions are observed. Crystal data: C16H13F2N3O, (1), Mr = 301.29, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 17.6219(6) Å, b = 10.8735(3) Å, c = 15.3216(5) Å, β = 102.864(3)°, V = 2862.11(16) Å3, Z = 8, T = 173 K, R(F) = 0.0511, wR(F2) = 0.1333; C16H13F2N3S, (2), Mr = 317.35, monoclinic, P21/c, a = 14.339(2) Å, b = 11.1478(17) Å, c = 9.541(2)(5) Å, β = 107.007(18)°, V = 1458.5(5) Å3, Z = 4, T = 173 K, R(F) = 0.0413, wR(F2) = 0.0959.
Assessment of Thailand’s Energy Policies and CO2 Emissions: Analyses of Energy Efficiency Measures and Renewable Power Generation
Authors: Promjiraprawat Kamphol , Limmeechokchai Bundit
Published: August 2012

This study assesses Thailand’s energy policies on renewable electricity generation and energy efficiency in industries and buildings. The CO2 emissions from power generation expansion plans (PGEPs) are also evaluated. The PGEPs of CO2 reduction targets of 20% and 40% emissions are also evaluated. Since 2008 Thai government has proposed the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) for renewable energy utilization. Results from energy efficiency measures indicate total cost saving of 1.34% and cumulative CO2 emission reduction of 59 Mt-CO2 in 2030 when compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. It was found that subsidies in the AEDP will promote renewable energy utilization and provide substantial CO2 mitigation. As a co-benefit, fuel import vulnerability can be improved by 27.31% and 14.27% for CO2 reduction targets of 20% and 40%, respectively.
Epigenetic Effects of Environmental Chemicals Bisphenol A and Phthalates
Authors: Singh Sher , Li Steven Shoei-Lung
Published: August 2012

The epigenetic effects on DNA methylation, histone modification, and expression of non-coding RNAs (including microRNAs) of environmental chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates have expanded our understanding of the etiology of human complex diseases such as cancers and diabetes. Multiple lines of evidence from in vitro and in vivo models have established that epigenetic modifications caused by in utero exposure to environmental toxicants can induce alterations in gene expression that may persist throughout life. Epigenetics is an important mechanism in the ability of environmental chemicals to influence health and disease, and BPA and phthalates are epigenetically toxic. The epigenetic effect of BPA was clearly demonstrated in viable yellow mice by decreasing CpG methylation upstream of the Agouti gene, and the hypomethylating effect of BPA was prevented by maternal dietary supplementation with a methyl donor like folic acid or the phytoestrogen genistein. Histone H3 was found to be trimethylated at lysine 27 by BPA effect on EZH2 in a human breast cancer cell line and mice. BPA exposure of human placental cell lines has been shown to alter microRNA expression levels, and specifically, miR-146a was strongly induced by BPA treatment. In human breast cancer MCF7 cells, treatment with the phthalate BBP led to demethylation of estrogen receptor (ESR1) promoter-associated CpG islands, indicating that altered ESR1 mRNA expression by BBP is due to aberrant DNA methylation. Maternal exposure to phthalate DEHP was also shown to increase DNA methylation and expression levels of DNA methyltransferases in mouse testis. Further, some epigenetic effects of BPA and phthalates in female rats were found to be transgenerational. Finally, the available new technologies for global analysis of epigenetic alterations will provide insight into the extent and patterns of alterations between human normal and diseased tissues. In vitro models such as human embryonic stem cells may be extremely useful in bettering the understanding of epigenetic effects on human development, health and disease, because the formation of embryoid bodies in vitro is very similar to the early stage of embryogenesis.
The Opuntia streptacantha OpsHSP18 Gene Confers Salt and Osmotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Salas-Muñoz Silvia , Gómez-Anduro Gracia , Delgado-Sánchez Pablo , Rodríguez-Kessler Margarita , Jiménez-Bremont Juan Francisco
Published: August 2012

Abiotic stress limits seed germination, plant growth, flowering and fruit quality, causing economic decrease. Small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs) are chaperons with roles in stress tolerance. Herein, we report the functional characterization of a cytosolic class CI sHSP (OpsHSP18) from Opuntia streptacantha during seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic lines subjected to different stress and hormone treatments. The over-expression of the OpsHSP18 gene in A. thaliana increased the seed germination rate under salt (NaCl) and osmotic (glucose and mannitol) stress, and in ABA treatments, compared with WT. On the other hand, the over-expression of the OpsHSP18 gene enhanced tolerance to salt (150 mM NaCl) and osmotic (274 mM mannitol) stress in Arabidopsis seedlings treated during 14 and 21 days, respectively. These plants showed increased survival rates (52.00 and 73.33%, respectively) with respect to the WT (18.75 and 53.75%, respectively). Thus, our results show that OpsHSP18 gene might have an important role in abiotic stress tolerance, in particular in seed germination and survival rate of Arabidopsis plants under unfavorable conditions.
Behavioral Immunity in Insects
Authors: De Roode Jacobus C. , Lefèvre Thierry
Published: August 2012

Parasites can dramatically reduce the fitness of their hosts, and natural selection should favor defense mechanisms that can protect hosts against disease. Much work has focused on understanding genetic and physiological immunity against parasites, but hosts can also use behaviors to avoid infection, reduce parasite growth or alleviate disease symptoms. It is increasingly recognized that such behaviors are common in insects, providing strong protection against parasites and parasitoids. We review the current evidence for behavioral immunity in insects, present a framework for investigating such behavior, and emphasize that behavioral immunity may act through indirect rather than direct fitness benefits. We also discuss the implications for host-parasite co-evolution, local adaptation, and the evolution of non-behavioral physiological immune systems. Finally, we argue that the study of behavioral immunity in insects has much to offer for investigations in vertebrates, in which this topic has traditionally been studied.
Evaluation of Pseudopteroxazole and Pseudopterosin Derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Other Pathogens
Authors: McCulloch Malcolm W. B. , Haltli Brad , Marchbank Douglas H. , Kerr Russell G.
Published: August 2012

Pseudopterosins and pseudopteroxazole are intriguing marine natural products that possess notable antimicrobial activity with a commensurate lack of cytotoxicity. New semi-synthetic pseudopteroxazoles, pseudopteroquinoxalines and pseudopterosin congeners along with simple synthetic mimics of the terpene skeleton were synthesized. In order to build structure-activity relationships, a set of 29 new and previously reported compounds was assessed for in vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. A number of congeners exhibited antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram-positive bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, with four displaying notable antitubercular activity against both replicating and non-replicating persistent forms of M. tuberculosis. One new semi-synthetic compound, 21-((1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl)-pseudopteroxazole (7a), was more potent than the natural products pseudopterosin and pseudopteroxazole and exhibited equipotent activity against both replicating and non-replicating persistent forms of M. tuberculosis with a near absence of in vitro cytotoxicity. Pseudopteroxazole also exhibited activity against strains of M. tuberculosis H37Rv resistant to six clinically used antibiotics.
Gene Sequence Based Clustering Assists in Dereplication of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea Strains with Identical Inhibitory Activity and Antibiotic Production
Authors: Vynne Nikolaj G. , Mansson Maria , Gram Lone
Published: August 2012

Some microbial species are chemically homogenous, and the same secondary metabolites are found in all strains. In contrast, we previously found that five strains of P. luteoviolacea were closely related by 16S rRNA gene sequence but produced two different antibiotic profiles. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether such bioactivity differences could be linked to genotypes allowing methods from phylogenetic analysis to aid in selection of strains for biodiscovery. Thirteen P. luteoviolacea strains divided into three chemotypes based on production of known antibiotics and four antibacterial profiles based on inhibition assays against Vibrio anguillarum and Staphylococcus aureus. To determine whether chemotype and inhibition profile are reflected by phylogenetic clustering we sequenced 16S rRNA, gyrB and recA genes. Clustering based on 16S rRNA gene sequences alone showed little correlation to chemotypes and inhibition profiles, while clustering based on concatenated 16S rRNA, gyrB, and recA gene sequences resulted in three clusters, two of which uniformly consisted of strains of identical chemotype and inhibition profile. A major time sink in natural products discovery is the effort spent rediscovering known compounds, and this study indicates that phylogeny clustering of bioactive species has the potential to be a useful dereplication tool in biodiscovery efforts.
Microbial Relevant Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: Influencing Factors, Characterization, and Fouling Control
Authors: Wu Bing , Fane Anthony G.
Published: August 2012

Microorganisms in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) play important roles on degradation of organic/inorganic substances in wastewaters, while microbial deposition/growth and microbial product accumulation on membranes potentially induce membrane fouling. Generally, there is a need to characterize membrane foulants and to determine their relations to the evolution of membrane fouling in order to identify a suitable fouling control approach in MBRs. This review summarized the factors in MBRs that influence microbial behaviors (community compositions, physical properties, and microbial products). The state-of-the-art techniques to characterize biofoulants in MBRs were reported. The strategies for controlling microbial relevant fouling were discussed and the future studies on membrane fouling mechanisms in MBRs were proposed.
Fungal Strains as Catalysts for the Biotransformation of Halolactones by Hydrolytic Dehalogenation with the Dimethylcyclohexane System
Authors: Grabarczyk Małgorzata
Published: August 2012

Bicyclic chloro-, bromo- and iodo-γ-lactones with dimethylcyclohexane rings were used as substrates for bioconversion by several fungal strains (Fusarium, Botrytis and Beauveria). Most of the selected microorganisms transformed these lactones by hydrolytic dehalogenation into the new compound cis-2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-9-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]- nonan-8-one, mainly the (−)-isomer. When iodo-γ-lactone was used as the substrate, two products were observed: a hydroxy-γ-lactone and an unsaturated lactone. The structures of all substrates and products were established on the basis of their spectral data. The mechanism of dehalogenation of three halolactones was also studied.
Towards Recyclable NAD(P)H Regeneration Catalysts
Authors: De Torres Miriam , Dimroth Jonas , Arends Isabel W. C. E. , Keilitz Juliane , Hollmann Frank
Published: August 2012

Rh(III)-TsDPEN, an immobilized analog of the well-known [Cp*Rh(bpy)(H2O)]2+ was evaluated as a heterogeneous, recyclable regeneration catalyst for reduced oxidoreductase cofactors [NAD(P)H]. Repeated use of this catalyst was established and the catalytic properties were initially investigated. Apparently, Rh(III)-TsDPEN is prone to severe diffusion limitations, necessitating further developments. Overall, a promising concept for chemoenzymatic redox catalysis is proposed, which may overcome some of the current limitations such as catalyst cost and incompatibility of Rh with some biocatalysts.
Temperature-Responsive Polymer Modified Surface for Cell Sheet Engineering
Authors: Tang Zhonglan , Akiyama Yoshikatsu , Okano Teruo
Published: August 2012

In the past two decades, as a novel approach for tissue engineering, cell sheet engineering has been proposed by our laboratory. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm), which is a well-known temperature-responsive polymer, has been grafted on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) surfaces through an electron beam irradiated polymerization. At 37 °C, where the PIPAAm modified surface is hydrophobic, cells can adhere, spread on the surface and grow to confluence. By decreasing temperature to 20 °C, since the surface turns to hydrophilic, cells can detach themselves from the surface spontaneously and form an intact cell sheet with extracellular matrix. For obtaining a temperature-induced cell attachment and detachment, it is necessary to immobilize an ultra thin PIPAAm layer on the TCPS surfaces. This review focuses on the characteristics of PIAPAm modified surfaces exhibiting these intelligent properties. In addition, PIPAAm modified surfaces giving a rapid cell-sheet recovery has been further developed on the basis of the characteristic of the PIPAAm surface. The designs of temperature-responsive polymer layer have provided an enormous potential to fabricate clinically applicable regenerative medicine.