bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physico-microbial investigation of mango (cv. Amrapali) under non-chemical preservation
Authors: Hafiz MMH , Hossain MM , Karim MR
Published: January 2019

Enormous postharvest losses occur in mango at different points of postharvest storage in Bangladesh. Various detrimental chemicals are used in most cases to prevent the postharvest loss. Thus, non-chemical storage strategy has become a crying need to prevent the use of hazardous chemicals. So, this experiment was carried out on mango cv. Amrapalihaving five non-chemical postharvest treatments viz., Control, Perforated polyethylene bag, Unperforated polyethylene bag, Chitosan coating & Edible oil (soybean) coating under two storage conditions viz., Ambient condition & Refrigerated condition to point out suitable storage approach through the assessment of physico-microbialattributes. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Parameters investigated were total weight loss, peel colour, firmness, visual & other characteristics, disease incidence and disease severity. The results revealed significant influence on all the parameters by both of the factors. At 9 days after storage (DAS), minimum weight loss (1.56%) was recorded at unperforated polyethylene bag under refrigerated condition but maximum weight loss (17.08%) was in control under ambient condition. The perforated polyethylene bag under refrigerated condition showed the lowest peel colour score (1.00) at 9 DAS which give the hint of longer storage. The scores of firmness change were also the lowest in unperforated (1.00) and perforated polyethylene bag (1.05) at 9 DAS, respectively. There was no disease incidence and severity in any of the treatments under refrigerated condition whereas 100% disease incidence was noticed in the control under ambient condition at 9 DAS. At later stages of storage, off-flavor was developed in unperforated polyethylene bag due to anaerobic respiration. The fresh and edible pulp without any off-flavor was recorded up to 27 DAS in perforated polyethylene bag under refrigerated condition. Hence, the perforated polyethylene bag under refrigerated condition could be a promising storage strategy for mango.

Progressive Agriculture 29 (3): 221-232, 2018
Effect of foliar application of gibberellic acid on different growth contributing characters of mungbean
Authors: Rahman MM , Khan ABMMM , Hasan MM , Banu LA , Howlader MHK
Published: January 2019

The comparative growth and yield performances between two Mungbean (BARI Mung 6 and BARI Mung 5) varieties with foliar application of GA3 (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) were studied to find out the suitable variety and optimum level of GA3 application. The design of experiment followed was RCBD. Data on morpho-physiological characteristics were recorded at 15, 25, 35, 45and 55 days after sowing (DAS) and yield contributing parameters were recorded only at harvest stage. The results showed that application of GA3 @ 100 ppm produced better performance on morpho-physiological characters namely, plant height (56.59cm), number of leaves per plant (10.75), branches per plant (4.75), length of root (24.73cm), total dry matter weight (12.67g)which were recorded from the variety BARI mung 6 with the foliar application of GA3 @ 100 ppm. Yield contributing characters were also showed the highest performance in terms of number of pods per plant (23.40), pod length (6.67cm), number of seeds per pod (12.82), thousand seed weight (33.95 g), seed yield (7.53 g/plant and 1.92 t ha–1), and harvest index (35.36%) which were the highest with the application of 100 ppm GA3 in case of BARI Mung 6. Single and combined effects of treatments were found statistically significant. Between two varieties BARI Mung 6, among the treatments GA3 @ 100 ppm as foliar application and interaction effect of GA3 @ 100 ppm and BARI mung 6 showed the highest performance in respect of all growth and yield parameters.

Progressive Agriculture 29 (3): 233-238, 2018
Induced breeding of endangered spiny eel (Mastacembelus armatus) using PG extract
Authors: Ali MR , Mollah MFA , Sarder MRI
Published: January 2019

Mastacembelus armatus is an important freshwater spiny eel of Bangladesh. The experiment was initiated to establish an induced breeding technique of the species with two induced breeding trials. In trial I, four different doses viz. 20, 40, 60 and 80mg PGkg-1 body weight of the fish were used to standardize the PG dose to ovulate the female M. armatus, and in trial II, the best dose identified in trial I was injected to fish once (whole dose) or twice with divided dose of PG at the rate of 30% and 70% at 6h interval to observe the effect of the mode of hormonal injection. Among the four doses applied in trial I, best result was obtained from 40mg PGkg-1 body weight in respect of ovulation rate (100%) of females and fertilization (93.00±2.00%) and hatching rates (58.30±3.50%) of eggs. In trial II, the females treated once (with the whole dose) or twice with divided dose of PG equally responded and no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between the modes of hormone injection in respect of ovulation rate of females and fertilization and hatching rates of eggs. As M. armatus is considered as endangered fish, this induced breeding technique will help to conserve the fish as well as to produce seed in commercial hatcheries.

Progressive Agriculture 29 (3): 267-275, 2018
Paganate kookidest seakõrvadeni. Transkultuuriline rännak ühe toidu jälgedes läbi sajandite ja kokaraamatute
Authors: Põltsam-Jürjo Inna
Published: January 2019

From “heathens’ cakes” to “pig’s ears”: tracing a food’s journey across cultures, centuries and cookbooks
It is intriguing from the perspective of food history to find in 19th and 20th century Estonian recipe collections the same foods – that is, foods sharing the same names – found back in European cookbooks of the 14th and 15th centuries. It is noteworthy that they have survived this long, and invites a closer study of the phenomenon. For example, 16th century sources contain a record about the frying of heathen cakes, a kind of fritter, in Estonia. A dish by the same name is also found in 18th and 19th century recipe collections. It is a noteworthy phenomenon for a dish to have such a long history in Estonian cuisine, spanning centuries in recipe collections, and merits a closer look.
Medieval European cookbooks listed two completely different foods under the name of heathen cakes and both were influenced from foods from the east. It is likely that the cakes made it to Tallinn and finer Estonian cuisine through Hanseatic merchants. It is not ultimately clear whether a single heathen cake recipe became domesticated in these parts already in the Middle Ages. In any case, heathen cakes would remain in Estonian cuisine for several centuries. As late as the early 19th century, the name in the local Baltic German cuisine referred to a delicacy made of egg-based batter fried in oil.
Starting from the 18th century, the history of these fritters in Estonian cuisine can be traced through cookbooks. Old recipe collections document the changes and development in the tradition of making these cakes. The traditions of preparing these cakes were not passed on only in time, but circulated within society, crossing social and class lines. Earlier known from the elites’ culture, the dish reached the tables of ordinary people in the late 19th and early 20th century. In Estonian conditions, it meant the dish also crossed ethnic lines – from the German elite to the Estonian common folk’s menus. In the course of adaptation process, which was dictated and guided by cookbooks and cooking courses, the name of the dish changed several times (heydenssche koken, klenätid, Räderkuchen, rattakokid, seakõrvad), and changes also took place in the flavour nuances (a transition from spicier, more robust favours to milder ones) and even the appearance of the cakes. The story of the heathen cakes or pig’s ears in Estonian cuisine demonstrates how long and tortuous an originally elite dish can be as it makes its way to the tables of the common folk. The domestication and adaptation of such international recipes in the historical Estonian cuisine demonstrates the transregional cultural exchange, as well as culinary mobility and communication.
Oma ja võõras toit: 1944. aasta pagulaste toidukogemused ERMi allikate põhjal
Authors: Reinvelt Riina
Published: January 2019

Our Food and Theirs: The 1944 Émigrés’ Food Experience Based on Estonian National Museum Sources

In the summer and autumn of 1944, as the Soviet front drew nearer, thousands of Estonians fled across the Baltic Sea to Finland, Sweden and Germany. The total number of those who fled has been estimated at 70,000–90,000 people. Of them, 50,000 Estonians made it to Germany and 28,000 Estonians to Sweden. Later a number of them emigrated further to the US, Canada, Australia and England. In their new adopted homes, the émigrés encountered unaccustomed food ingredients, dishes and food preparation methods. These items varied slightly in all countries, but a theme that was a constant for émigrés when they wrote or talked about their experiences with food was the lack of Estonian-type foods. In the context of people’s everyday expectations and practices, this meant a cultural clash between the habitual practices they carried with them when they became refugees and the experiences in their new homelands.
The lack of Estonian food in the local food culture led to the need to prepare the dishes themselves – both everyday staples (such as bread and sauerkraut) and fare associated with special occasions and holidays (head cheese or sült, the beet and potato salad called rosolje and the sweet fruited bread kringel). The food preparers were mainly women, and women also typically also hold a regular job to earn a living for the family.
The first generation of émigrés saw Estonian-style food as the food of their homeland, which fostered a direct link to the home they had left; attitudes toward it became increasingly nostalgic. For the first generation of descendants of the émigrés, the flavours and food experiences are a part of home, environment and childhood memories.
On the basis of the interviews and answers on questionnaire forms in the museum archive as well as the experiences gained in field work, we can conclude that in everyday practice, Estonian-style food is one of the most vital anchors of identity for émigré Estonian communities. The preparation of Estonian foods, the seeking out of such food from stores and consumption of Estonian food remains for the Estonian diaspora a way to identify as Estonian and adapt into the community of Estonians in their country of location.
Kaama-taguste udmurtide sügispalvus: rituaali etnograafiline kirjeldus välitööde põhjal
Authors: Toulouze Eva
Published: January 2019

Eastern Udmurt autumn rituals: An ethnographic description based on fieldwork

There is a good amount of literature about Eastern Udmurt religious practice, particularly under its collective form of village rituals, as the Eastern Udmurt have retained much of their ethnic religion: their ancestors left their villages in the core Udmurt territory, now Udmurtia, as they wanted to go on living according to their customs, threatened by forceful Evangelisation. While many spectacular features such as the village ceremonies have drawn scholarly attention since the 19th century, the Eastern Udmurt religious practice encompasses also more modest rituals at the family level, as for example commemorations of the dead, Spring and Autumn ceremonies. Literature about the latter is quite reduced, as is it merely mentioned both in older and more recent works. This article is based on the author's fieldwork in 2017 and presents the ceremonies in three different families living in different villages of the Tatyshly district of Bashkortostan. It allows us to compare them and to understand the core of the ritual: it is implemented in the family circle, with the participation of a close range of kin, and encompasses both porridge eating and praying. It can at least give an idea of the living practice of this ritual in today's Eastern Udmurt villages. This depends widely on the age of the main organisers, on their occupations: older retired people will organise more traditional rituals than younger, employed Udmurts. Further research will ascertain how much of this tradition is still alive in other districts and in other places.
Elit ve Subelit Genç Karatecilerin Reaktif Çeviklik ve Planlı Yön Değiştirme Becerilerinin Karşılaştırılması
Authors: Yıldız Mehmet , Çiğirdik Rabia
Published: January 2019

Bu çalışmanın amacı elit
ve sub-elit genç karatecilerin yumruk vuruşlarına göre düzenlenmiş reaktif
çeviklik ve planlı yön değiştirme becerilerinin karşılaştırılmasıdır. Çalışmaya
on üç elit (yaş:14.92±1.65
yıl  , boy:157.53±9.07 cm., kilo:52.92±9.86 kg) ve on sub-elit
(yaş:13.50± 0.52 yıl,  boy:153.00±7.22 cm, kilo:54.40±9.93 kg) genç karateci katılmıştır. Sporcuların
yumruk atışları esnasındaki reaktif çevikliklerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla kum
torbasının dört ayrı noktasına dört kızılötesi sensör yerleştirilmiştir.
Sensörlerin üzerinde led ışık bulunmaktadır. Bu sensörlerden biri araştırmacı
tarafından tetiklenerek açılır. Sporcu ışığı aktifleşen ledin altına yumruk
atar yumruk atıldığında sensör yumruğu algılar ve diğer ledi yakar. Sporcu toplamda
dört ledi söndürdüğünde test sona erer. Sporcu bu testte hangi sensörün
aktifleşeceğini bilmemektedir. Her sporcu için farklı rota belirlenmiştir.
Planlı yön değiştirme testinde ise bu sefer sporcular hangi sensörün altına
sırasıyla yumruk atacaklarını bilmektedir. Startla beraber sırasıyla dört ledin
altına yumruk atışı yapıldığında test sona ermiştir. Her iki testin sonucunun
gruplar arasında karşılaştırılması amacıyla bağımsız değişken t testi
kullanılmıştır. Testler arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi için Pearson
korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Çalışma sonunda elit sporcuların reaktif
çeviklik değerleri istatistiksel olarak daha kısa iken (2.567±0.50sn. karşın 3.469±0.77sn., p<0.05), planlı
yön değiştirme becerileri arasında anlamlı fark tespit edilememiştir.  Bununla beraber, iki test arasında pozitif
yönde yüksek bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir (r= 0.874, p<0.05). Sonuç olarak;
dövüş sporlarında antrenmanlarda reaktif çeviklik çalışmalarına yer verilmesi
önerilmektedir.
Bankacılık Sektörü Çalışanlarını Rekreasyonel Sporlara Katılıma İten Unsurların Demografik Faktörlerle Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Çetinkaya Gökhan , Mungan Ay Serap , Bayram Ayhan
Published: January 2019

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, yoğun çalışma saatleriyle, sert
rekabet koşulları altında hizmet veren bankacılık sektörü çalışanlarını rekreasyonel
sporlara katılmaya motive eden unsurların demografik etkenlere göre farklılık
gösterip göstermediğini belirlemektir. Araştırmanın evrenini Türkiye’de
faaliyet gösteren 51 bankada çalışan 217.525 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Örneklem
hesaplanırken % 4 hata marjı baz alınarak 700 sayısı belirlenmiş ve tabakalı
örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Ölçme aracı olarak, Rogers ve Morris (2003)
tarafından geliştirilen ve Gürbüz, Aşçı ve Çelebi tarafından (2006) Türkçe’ye
uyarlanarak, geçerliliği ve güvenilirliği test edilen Rekreasyonel Egzersize
Güdülenme Ölçeği (REMM) uygulanmıştır. REMM’e ek olarak demografik özellikleri
belirlemek için kişisel bilgi formu kullanılmıştır. Analiz aşamasında verilerin
normal dağılıma uygunluğunu belirlemek için Kolmogorov Simirnov testi
yapılmıştır. Verilerin normal dağılıma uygun olmaması nedeniyle Mann Whitney U
ve Kruskal Wallis H testleri uygulanmış, ayrıca boyutlar arasındaki ilişkileri
ölçmek için korelasyon analizi yapılmıştır. Bankacılık sektörü çalışanlarını rekreasyonel
sporlara katılıma motive eden unsurların boyutlara göre önem sıralaması sağlık,
beceri gelişimi, sosyal ve eğlence, vücut ve dış görünüm ve rekabet olarak
bulunmuştur. Bankacılık sektörü çalışanlarını rekreasyonel sporlara katılmaya
motive eden unsurların cinsiyet, yaş, medeni durum, eğitim durumu ve gelir
durumu değişkenlerine göre farklılaştığı sonucuna varılmıştır.
Mobbing Davranışlarının Amatör Futbolcuların Tükenmişliğine Etkisi
Authors: Yıldız Süleyman Murat , Yıldız Bekir S. , Kepoğlu Abdurrahman
Published: January 2019

Bu
çalışmada, mobbing davranışlarının amatör futbolcuların tükenmişliği üzerine
etkisi incelenmiştir. Bu çerçevede, ilk olarak futbolcuların mobbinge maruz
kalma ve tükenmişlik düzeyleri belirlenmiştir. Daha sonra, demografik
değişkenler ile mobbingin alt boyutları olan kişi ilişkili mobbing, iş ilişkili
mobbing ve fiziksel korkutucu mobbingin futbolcuların duygusal/fiziksel
tükenmesi, duyarsızlaşması ve başarıda düşüş hissi üzerine etkisi
incelenmiştir. Veri toplama aracı olarak, mobbingi ölçmek için Olumsuz
Davranışlar Ölçeği-Futbol, tükenmişliği ölçmek için Sporcu Tükenmişlik Ölçeği
kullanılmıştır. Veriler Amatör Futbol Liginde yer alan oyunculardan (N=102)
elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde, betimleyici analiz, güvenirlik,
korelasyon ve regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda amatör
futbolcuların mobbing algısının ve tükenmişlik düzeylerinin düşük olduğu ve amatör futbol takımlarındaki mobbing
davranışlarının futbolcuların tükenmişliğini anlamlı ve pozitif olarak
etkilediği görülmüştür.
Investigation of The Correlation Between Quality of Life and Participation in Recreative Activities of University Students
Authors: Bastug Gulsum , Zorba ERCAN , Özkara ŞAHALİ , Altıncit Uğur
Published: January 2019

The aim of this research was to investigate of the correlation
between qualıty of living and participation in recreative activities of
university students.  A total of 498
subjects, of which 276 male and 222 female, with a mean age of 21.54 ± 2.02,
who are students of Faculty of Sports Sciences of both Muğla Sıtkı Koçman
University and Gazi University, voluntarily participated to our survey. The
World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form (WHOQOL-27) and
personal information form were used to determine the quality of life for
university students participating in the study. Crosstab, Chi-square,
independent t-test and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the
data. As a result, it was found that there is a significant correlation between
the physical field and the income level, which is the quality of life subscale,
between the psychological field and the academic achievement, the income level
and the place of life, between the social field and the age and income level. A
positive correlation was found in the positive direction for university
students participating in the survey between the quality of life subscales
total score of the physical and psychological field and the answers about
difficulties in assessing your free time. In order to improve the quality of
life of university students, it is suggested to create recreation areas where
they can spend free time efficiently and actively on and off campus.
Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of the spadix of Colocasia affinis Schott
Authors: Lalremruati C. , Malsawmtluangi C. , Lalhlenmawia H.
Published: January 2019

The objective of this study was to determine the phytoconstituents present in successive extracts and the antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of the spadix of Colocasia affinis. The preliminary phytochemical investigation indicated the presence of fats and fixed oils, steroids and triterpenoids in petroleum ether extract, steroids and triterpenoids in chloroform extract, flavonoids and tannins in methanol extract and carbohydrates in the aqueous extract. An in vivo test for antidepressant activity was performed on the methanolic extract of the plant at two different doses using force swim test and tail suspension test on an experimental animal model (rat). Imipramine was used as a standard drug for the study. The methanolic extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg, produced significant reduction (p<0.001) in the immobility period when compared with that of control group animals in both the tests. Thus, the result indicates that the methanolic extract exhibited significantly good antidepressant activity. Further investigation may be needed to understand the actual mechanism of action.
Isolation and molecular characterization of ginger soft rot pathogenic fungi in Aizawl district of Mizoram, India
Authors: Rosangkima G. , Vanramliana  , Lalthanzara H. , Lalringngheti  , Lalramnghaki H.C.
Published: January 2019

Ginger soft rot disease caused by fungal pathogens have become one of the most serious problems causing reduced production around the world. It has also caused a major problem among farmers of Mizoram state in India resulting in a huge decline in rhizome yield. However, the exact causative agents of this disease have not been identified in the state. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to isolate and characterized the causative agents of ginger soft rot disease from the diseased plants collected from five different villages of Aizawl district, Mizoram. Isolated fungi were cultured and morphological and molecular identification were done using internal transcribed spacer of rDNA. Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Plectosphaerella cucumerina were identified in ginger samples from five villages. Fusarium spp. were the most common and seem to be the major causative agents. It is suggested that further investigation is required to explore the diversity of ginger soft rot pathogenic fungi in the whole state which could be helpful in introducing effective and eco-friendly disease management programme.
Some phytochemical analyses of different extracts of the cogon grass Imperata cylindrica from Mizoram, India
Authors: Lalthanpuii P.B. , Zarzokimi  , Lalchhandama K.
Published: January 2019

Cogon grass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Räuschel, was studied for its flavonoid and phenol contents. A series of extracts of the underground (rhizome-root) parts was prepared by hot extraction using solvents of different polarities such as chloroform, methanol, and petroleum ether. The total flavonoid content of the plant extracts was determined based on the reaction with aluminum chloride, sodium nitrite, and sodium hydroxide. Quercetin was used as a standard reference. Chloroform extract showed highest content of flavonoids with 30.88 mg QE/g dry wt., followed by petroleum ether extract which was 22.05 mg mg QE/g dry wt., and methanol extract has the least value with 7.35 mg QE/g dry wt. The total phenolic content of the plant was estimated based on the reaction of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as the standard reference. Again, the chloroform extract had the highest content with 7.54 mg GAE/g dry wt., while methanol extract contained 5.03 mg GAE/g dry wt., and petroleum ether extract contained 3.63 mg mg GAE/g dry wt. Our study shows that I. cylindrica is a good source of antioxidants.
Diversity, distribution and conservation status of fish of the genus Garra (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Kaladan drainage of Mizoram, northeastern India
Authors: Solo Beihrosa , Lalnuntluanga
Published: January 2019

The present study was carried out on the diversity of fish under the genus Garra from the Kaladan River and its tributaries of Mizoram, northeast India. The study reported the occurrence of seven species viz. Garra flavatra, G. cf. koladynensis, G. cf. matensis, G. nigricolis, G. rakhinica, G. manipurensis and G. khawbungi. Key to Garra species from Kaladan River drainage of Mizoram and their brief descriptions are given.
Spatio-temporal structures in ensembles of coupled chaotic systems
Authors: Strelkova G I , Anishchenko V S
Published: January 2019

We review numerical results of studies of the complex dynamics of one- and double-dimensional networks (ensembles) of nonlocally coupled identical chaotic oscillators in the form of discrete- and continuous-time systems, as well as lattices of coupled ensembles. We show that these complex networks can demonstrate specific types of spatio-temporal patterns in the form of chimera states, known as the coexistence of spatially localized domains of coherent (synchronized) and incoherent (asynchronous) dynamics in a network of nonlocally coupled identical oscillators. We describe phase, amplitude, and double-well chimeras and solitary states; their basic characteristics are analyzed and compared. We focus on two basic discrete-time models, Hénon and Lozi maps, which can be used to describe typical chimera structures and solitary states in networks of a wide range of chaotic oscillators. We discuss the bifurcation mechanisms of their appearance and evolution. In conclusion, we describe effects of synchronization of chimera states in coupled ensembles of chaotic maps.
Experimental studies of two-dimensional complex plasma crystals: waves and instabilities
Authors: Couëdel L , Nosenko V , Zhdanov S , Ivlev A V , Laut I , Yakovlev E V , Kryuchkov N P , Ovcharov P V , Lipaev A M , Yurchenko S O
Published: January 2019

A review of experimental studies on waves, phonon dispersion relations, and mode-coupling instability in two-dimensional complex plasma crystals is presented. An improved imaging method allowing simultaneous measurements of the three wave modes (compression in-plane, shear in-plane, and out-of-plane) is given. This method is used to evidence the formation of hybrid modes and the triggering of the mode-coupling instability due to wake-mediated interactions. The main stages of the mode-coupling instability are analyzed. In the early stages, synchronization of microparticle motion at the hybrid mode frequency is reported. The spatial orientation of the observed synchronization pattern correlates well with the directions of the maximal increment of the shear-free hybrid mode. When the instability is fully developed, a melting front is formed. The propagation of the melting front has similarities with flame propagation in ordinary reactive matter. Finally, it is experimentally demonstrated that an external mechanical excitation of a stable 2D complex plasma crystal can trigger the mode-coupling instability and lead to the full melting of a two-dimensional complex plasma crystal.
Material equations and Maxwell’s equations for isotropic media; waves with negative group velocity and negative values of ε (ω) and μ(ω)
Authors: Makarov V P , Rukhadze A A
Published: January 2019

The frequently used Maxwell’s equations that contain E, B, D, and H fields are only substantiated in the framework of linear material equations and for isotropic media alone. We have shown that accounting for the deviation of magnetic permittivity μ (ω) from unity in the usually employed dispersion equation implies a false precision. Therefore, if spatial dispersion is disregarded, transverse waves only exist in the energy region where ε(ω) > 0 and have a positive group velocity.
Cholesterol Metabolism: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma
Authors: Ahmad Fahim , Sun Qian , Patel Deven , Stommel Jayne M.
Published: January 2019

Glioblastoma is a highly lethal adult brain tumor with no effective treatments. In this review, we discuss the potential to target cholesterol metabolism as a new strategy for treating glioblastomas. Twenty percent of cholesterol in the body is in the brain, yet the brain is unique among organs in that it has no access to dietary cholesterol and must synthesize it de novo. This suggests that therapies targeting cholesterol synthesis in brain tumors might render their effects without compromising cell viability in other organs. We will describe cholesterol synthesis and homeostatic feedback pathways in normal brain and brain tumors, as well as various strategies for targeting these pathways for therapeutic intervention.
Adjuvant Ipilimumab in High-Risk Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Fountain Eric , Bassett Roland L. , Cain Suzanne , Posada Liberty , Gombos Dan S. , Hwu Patrick , Bedikian Agop , Patel Sapna P.
Published: January 2019

Uveal melanoma is a common intraocular malignant tumor that is uniformly fatal once metastatic. No effective adjuvant therapy currently exists to reduce the risk of distant metastasis after definitive treatment of the primary lesion. Immunotherapy has been used effectively in the adjuvant setting in locally advanced cutaneous melanoma. We performed a Phase I/II clinical trial of adjuvant ipilimumab in high-risk primary uveal melanoma with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) as the primary objective. A total of 10 patients with genomically high-risk disease were treated: three at a dose of 3 mg/kg and seven at 10 mg/kg. Two of the seven patients at the higher dose had to discontinue therapy secondary to grade 3 toxicity. At 36 months follow-up, 80% of patients had no evidence of distant disease (95% CI, 58.7–100). With recent advancements in CTLA-4 inhibition, PD-1 inhibition, and combined checkpoint blockade, immunotherapy is a promising avenue of treatment in uveal melanoma. Further clinical trials are needed to elucidate the role of immunotherapy in the adjuvant setting.
Algal Epibionts as Co-Engineers in Mussel Beds: Effects on Abiotic Conditions and Mobile Interstitial Invertebrates
Authors: Gutiérrez Jorge L. , Bagur María , Palomo M. Gabriela
Published: January 2019

Mussels and macroalgae have long been recognized as physical ecosystem engineers that modulate abiotic conditions and resources and affect the composition of rocky shore assemblages. Their spatial distributions in the intertidal zone frequently overlap, as many algal species thrive as epibionts on mussel beds. Nonetheless, their potential for combined engineering effects has not been addressed to date. Here we illustrate that Porphyra sp.—a desiccation-resistant macroalga that develops mostly epiphytically onto mussel beds—affects temperature, desiccation levels, and mobile interstitial invertebrates in mussel beds. Specifically, we observed that Porphyra cover (a) reduced temperature at the surface of the mussel bed but not at their base, (b) reduced desiccation both at the surface and base of the mussel bed and, (c) increased the densities of an abundant interstitial species—the amphipod Hyale grandicornis—in several study sites/dates. Additionally, we found that the positive responses of these grazing amphipods to Porphyra were driven by physical habitat modification (engineering) rather than food availability. This suggests that co-engineering by Porphyra and mussels generates abiotic states and focal species responses that would not be predictable from their individual effects. We expect that increased appreciation of co-engineering aids our understanding of complex ecological dynamics.
Allometric Models for Estimation of Forest Biomass in North East India
Authors: Nath Arun , Tiwari Brajesh , Sileshi Gudeta , Sahoo Uttam , Brahma Biplab , Deb Sourabh , Devi Ningthoujam , Das Ashesh , Reang Demsai , Chaturvedi Shiva , Tripathi Om , Das Dhruba , Gupta Asha
Published: January 2019

In tropical and sub-tropical regions, biomass carbon (C) losses through forest degradation are recognized as central to global terrestrial carbon cycles. Accurate estimation of forest biomass C is needed to provide information on C fluxes and balances in such systems. The objective of this study was to develop generalized biomass models using harvest data covering tropical semi-evergreen, tropical wet evergreen, sub-tropical broad leaved, and sub-tropical pine forest in North East India (NEI). Among the four biomass estimation models (BEMs) tested AGBest = 0.32(D2Hδ)0.75 × 1.34 and AGBest = 0.18D2.16 × 1.32 were found to be the first and second best models for the different forest types in NEI. The study also revealed that four commonly used generic models developed by Chambers (2001), Brown (1989), Chave (2005) and Chave (2014) overestimated biomass stocks by 300–591 kg tree−1, while our highest rated model overestimated biomass by 197 kg tree−1. We believe the BEMs we developed will be useful for practitioners involved in remote sensing, biomass estimation and in projects on climate change mitigation, and payment for ecosystem services. We recommend future studies to address country scale estimation of forest biomass covering different forest types.
Improving Forest Aboveground Biomass (AGB) Estimation by Incorporating Crown Density and Using Landsat 8 OLI Images of a Subtropical Forest in Western Hunan in Central China
Authors: Li Chao , Li Yingchang , Li Mingyang
Published: January 2019

Forest aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation modeling based on remote sensing is an important method for large-scale biomass estimation; the accuracy of the estimation models has been a topic of broad and current interest. In this study, we used permanent sample plot data and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images of western Hunan. Remote-sensing-based models were developed for different vegetation types, and different crown density classes were incorporated. The linear model, linear dummy variable model, and linear mixed-effects model were used to determine the most effective and accurate method for remote-sensing-based AGB estimation. The results show that the adjusted coefficient of determination (R2adj) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the linear dummy model and linear mixed-effects model were significantly better than those of the linear model; the R2adj increased more than 0.16 and the RMSE decreased more than 2.12 for each vegetation type, and the F-test also showed significant differences between the linear model and linear dummy variable model and between the linear model and linear mixed-effects model. The accuracies of the AGB estimations of the linear dummy variable model and the linear mixed-effects model were significantly better than those of linear model in the thin and dense crown density classes. There were no significant differences in the AGB estimation performance between the linear dummy variable model and linear mixed-effects model; these two models were more flexible and more suitable than the linear model for remote-sensing-based AGB estimation. The results of this study provide a new approach for solving the low-accuracy estimations of linear models.
Atypical Pattern of Soil Carbon Stocks along the Slope Position in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in Thailand
Authors: Takahashi Masamichi , Hirai Keizo , Marod Dokrak , Anusontpornperm Somchai , Limtong Pitayakon , Leaungvutivirog Chaveevan , Panuthai Samreong
Published: January 2019

The pattern of soil carbon stock is atypical along the slope position in a seasonally dry tropical forest; the mean stock values increase from the lower, middle, to upper slopes, at 11.5, 13.2, and 15.5 kg m−2, respectively. In sloping landscapes, soil organic carbon tends to accumulate in lower slopes, but our previous soil respiration study suggested that soil carbon stock distribution along the slope position in seasonally dry tropical forests is atypical. The aims of this study were: (i) to examine whether the atypical pattern occurs widely in the watershed; and (ii) to examine the pattern of root development in the soil profile as a source of soil carbon. The density and stock of soil carbon in three soil layers (0–10, 10–30, and 30–100 cm) of 13 soil profiles were compared in different positions on the slope (upper, middle, and lower). Root biomass at each slope position was also determined. Soil carbon density in each layer increased significantly with an increase in the relative position of the slopes, particularly in the 10–30 cm soil layer. The density of medium root (3–10 mm in diameter) in the upper slopes was significantly higher than that in the middle and lower slopes, especially for 15–60 cm soil layers. The atypical pattern of soil carbon accumulation along the slope position occurred widely in the studied watershed and appeared to be caused by the development of root systems in deeply weathered soil under xeric soil conditions in the upper slopes. Roots of bamboo undergrowth may also contribute to soil carbon stabilization by reducing soil erosion in the surface soil.
The Potential of High Resolution (5 m) RapidEye Optical Data to Estimate Above Ground Biomass at the National Level over Tanzania
Authors: Hojas Gascón Lorena , Ceccherini Guido , García Haro Francisco Javier , Avitabile Valerio , Eva Hugh
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we review the potential of high resolution optical satellite data to reduce the significant investment in resources required for a national field survey for producing estimates of above ground biomass (AGB). We use 5 m resolution RapidEye optical data to support a country wide biomass inventory with the objective of bringing to the attention of the traditional forestry sector the advantages of integrating remote sensing data in the planning and execution of field data acquisition. We analysed the relationship between AGB estimates from a subset of the national survey field plot data collected by the Tanzania Forest Service, with a set of remote sensing biophysical parameters extracted from a sample of fine spatial (5 m) resolution RapidEye images using a regression estimator. We processed RapidEye data using image segmentation for 76 sample sites each of 20 km by 20 km (covering 2.3% of the land area of the country) to image objects of 1 ha. We extracted reflectance and texture information from those objects which overlapped with the field plot data and tested correlations between the two using four different models: Two models from inferential statistics and two models from machine learning. The best results were found using the random forests algorithm (R2 = 0.69). The most important explicative factor extracted from the remote sensing data was the shadow index, measuring the absorption of light in the visible bands. The model was then applied to all image objects on the RapidEye images to obtain AGB for each of the 76 sample sites, which were then interpolated to estimate the AGB stock at the national scale. Using the relative efficiency measure, we assessed the improvement that the introduction of remote sensing data brings to obtain an AGB estimate at the national level, with the same precision as the full survey. The improvement in the precision of the estimate (by reducing its variance) resulted in a relative efficiency of 3.2. This demonstrates that the introduction of remote sensing data at this fine resolution can substantially reduce the number of field plots required, in this case threefold.
The Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Overweight/Obese and Non-Overweight/Non-Obese Children/Adolescents in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Simeng , Sun Qi , Zhai Lingling , Bai Yinglong , Wei Wei , Jia Lihong
Published: January 2019

With the dramatic growth of the Chinese economy, the number of children/adolescents with being overweight/having obesity is increasing, which has a certain impact on their psychology, such as depression and anxiety symptoms. Our purpose was to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence and odds ratios of depression and anxiety symptoms among overweight/obese children/adolescents and non-overweight/obese children/adolescents in China. As of July 2018, the three most comprehensive computerized academic databases in China have been systematically screened, namely China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) databases, Wanfang databases and Vip databases. The same operations are performed in PubMed and Web of Science (SCIE) databases without language restrictions. Case-control studies on prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in overweight/obese children/adolescents in China were analyzed. Study selection and evaluation were performed independently by three authors. Unweighted prevalence, pooled random-effects estimates of odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were all calculated. A total of 11 eligible studies involving 17,894 subjects were included. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in overweight/obese children/adolescents was significantly higher than that in non-overweight/non-obese children/adolescents (depression: 21.73% vs. 17.96%, OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.87, p = 0.003; anxiety: 39.80% vs. 13.99%, OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.79, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses conducted according to scale types showed that scale types have certain significance to evaluate the relationship between depression symptoms and overweight/obesity. The OR of depression symptoms between overweight/obese children/adolescents and non-overweight/non-obese children/adolescents was greatest on the Middle School Student Mental Health Scale (MSSMHS) was 2.06 (95% CI: 1.41, 3.02, I2 = 0.00%), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.84, 1.25, I2 = 0.00%), and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.42, I2 = 0.00%). We concluded that the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in overweight/obese children/adolescents in China is higher than that in the non-overweight/obese children/adolescents. The results of the study indicate that the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among overweight/obese children/adolescents in Chinese medical institutions should receive more attention. Physical exercise and psychological interventions should be strengthened to prevent psychological problems. However, because of some clear limitations (no clinical interview and few studies), these results should be interpreted with caution.
Psychological Distress and Social Functioning in Elderly Spanish People: A Gender Analysis
Authors: Matud M. Pilar , García M. Concepción
Published: January 2019

Psychological distress has been considered a key component in the psychosocial functioning and functional disability of the elderly, but the determining factors of social functioning and psychological distress in the elderly people are not yet fully known. The aim of this study is to perform a gender analysis of the relevance of psychological distress and psychosocial factors in the social functioning of the elderly. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 589 men and 684 women from the general Spanish population aged between 65 and 94 years was conducted. All participants were evaluated through questionnaires and scales that assess psychological distress, social functioning, stress, coping styles, self-esteem and social support. Results: Women scored higher than men in psychological distress, chronic stress, emotional coping and instrumental social support, whereas men scored higher than women in self-esteem and rational coping. Psychological distress was significantly associated in women and men with worse social functioning, which was also lower in older people and in women with lower self-esteem. Psychological distress has a considerable impact on the social functioning of the elderly, and gender is a relevant factor in the psychological distress experienced and its predictors.
Suitability Assessment of Legal Regulation of Chemical Concentrations According to Vapor Pressure and Damage Radius
Authors: Lee Hyo Eun , Yoon Seok J. , Sohn Jong-Ryeul , Huh Da-An , Jang Seok-Won , Moon Kyong Whan
Published: January 2019

Many chemicals used in the industrial field present risks, which differ depending on their chemical properties. Additionally, their various physicochemical properties change considerably with concentration. Many chemicals are used in customized processes in factories in the form of different aqueous solutions. The Korean Chemicals Control Act evaluates “hazardous chemicals”, describes their risks to the public, and regulates their concentration. To prepare against chemical accidents, factories construct models of potential damage radius, which is greatly influenced by a chemical’s vapor pressure. This study selected substances with widely varying vapor pressures (hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, aqueous ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide) and compared the results of different modeling programs (KORA, ALOHA, PHAST, and RMP*Comp) for various aqueous solution concentrations. The results showed that damage radius and vapor pressure increased similarly for each substance. Damage radius was negligible at low concentrations for all substances studied. Damage radius of ammonia solution increased with vapor pressure. Hydrogen fluoride is not found in aqueous solution at concentrations of less than 37%, and hydrogen peroxide does not show a large damage radius at low concentrations. However, the Chemicals Control Act strictly regulates hydrogen fluoride concentration beginning at 1%, hydrogen chloride and aqueous ammonia at 10%, and hydrogen peroxide at 6%. To effectively prepare against chemical accidents, we must examine scientifically-based, suitable regulations based on physicochemical properties.
The Increase of ROS Caused by the Interference of DEHP with JNK/p38/p53 Pathway as the Reason for Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Huang Yuanyuan , Wu Chuancheng , Ye Youbin , Zeng Jingwen , Zhu Jianlin , Li Yuchen , Wang Wenxiang , Zhang Wenchang , Chen Yiqin , Xie Hongyuan , Zhang Hongmei , Liu Jin
Published: January 2019

As the most commonly used plasticizer, Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) exists everywhere in the environment due to the widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in human life, and it is also a recognized environmental pollutant. Studies have proved the hepatotoxicity of DEHP, however the mechanism has not been adequately explored, especially the role of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in it. In the present study, 21 day-old ICR mice were administered DEHP with dose of 0, 125, 250, and 375 mg/kg/day for 28 days by intragastrical gavage. After contamination, histopathology displayed that liver tissue were damaged mildly with the effect of DEHP; a significant increase of the serum liver function index (including aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)) were observed. Additionally, the level of lipid peroxidation markedly rise, especially ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA), but the activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was obviously decreased in mice liver. In addition, DEHP promoted the phosphorylation of JNK and p38MAPK proteins in mice liver, as well as increased the expression of p53 protein and decreased the level of DNA methylation in the p53 gene promoter region. These results indicated that the hepatotoxicity of mice caused by DEHP may be through activating the JNK/p38MAPK/p53 signaling pathway and further promoting the generation of ROS to induce lipid peroxidation in liver, and the role of DNA methylation may be inevitable.