bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Storage behaviour of ‘Reinette du Canada’ apple cultivars
Authors: Guerra M. , Valenciano J. B. , Marcelo V. , Casquero P. A.
Published: November 2013

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cultivars ‘Reinette du Canada’ (RC) and ‘Reinette Grise du Canada’ (RG) have been declared throughout the European Community as protected designation of origin (PDO) ‘Manzana Reineta del Bierzo’. The aim of this research was to find out the influence of storage technique on quality of PDO apple cultivars ‘RC’ and ‘RG’, and to evaluate the absence of traditional post-harvest treatments in these high quality cultivars in order to reduce pesticide residues in fruit. Apples were kept in standard cold storage or in controlled atmosphere (CA). At harvest time and during storage, fruit from each treatment and storage technique was analysed to determine quality parameters as well as disorder incidence. CA storage has been useful to delay the maturity process of PDO apple cultivars ‘RC’ and ‘RG’ and to reduce the incidence of storage disorders. Apple cultivars had different behaviour so ‘RG’ cultivar showed lower weight loss (5.1%), shrivelling (6.4%) and bitter-pit (11%) than ‘RC’ cultivar (8.3%, 60.8% and 34%, respectively) at the end of storage. The response of both cultivars to the treatment was quite different, so ‘RG’ adapted better than ‘RC’ to the absence of postharvest treatments. Untreated ‘RG’ showed more brightness, total soluble solids (TSS) and TSS:titratable acidity values than treated ‘RG’, factors that could improve consumer acceptance. Effectiveness of postharvest treatment in terms of bitter-pit was lower in ‘RG’ than in ‘RC’. These results indicate that ‘RG’ would adapt better to storage without the use of chemical postharvest treatments.
A comparative analysis of the sustainability of rice cultivation technologies using the analytic network process
Authors: Reig E. , Aznar J. , Estruch V.
Published: November 2013

Sustainability of local farming systems and technologies is a very important issue that faces notorious measurement difficulties. Multi-criteria methods may help researchers to solve empirical problems in the construction of composite sustainability indicators and in ranking agricultural technologies according to their sustainability. This paper shows how a multi-criteria decision-making technique, the Analytic Network Process (ANP), can be fruitfully employed to this end. Contrary to simpler and hierarchical goal-criteria-alternative approaches, in ANP all the elements in the network can be related in any possible way, which means that a network can incorporate feedback and interdependent relationships within and between clusters. We illustrate the use of ANP by ranking three rice cultivation technologies, - that we call unrestricted traditional, agro-environmental and ecological – in the rice fields of the Albufera Natural Park in Valencia (Spain), using economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability criteria. Rice is a multifunctional crop in this area, as flooded rice fields act as semi-natural wetlands, with important ecological consequences, mainly connected with the protection of biodiversity. We show that the ANP methodology is perfectly suited to tackling the complex interrelations involved in sustainability evaluation in this case. We find the ecological cultivation system to be the most sustainable technology. The agro-environmental system ranks second, while the unrestricted system is ranked third. Our results also show that if only the economic dimension of sustainability were considered, the order would be reversed, with traditional unrestricted and ecological technologies exchanging places and the agro-environmental system remaining in second place.
Comparison of nitrification inhibitors to restrict nitrate leaching in a maize crop irrigated under mediterranean conditions
Authors: Diez J. A. , Arauzo M. , Hernaiz P. J. , Sanz A. , Vallejo A.
Published: November 2013

The aim of this paper was to compare dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4 dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) as inhibitors of ammonium oxidation and nitrate leaching after applying fertilizer to a maize (Zea mays L.) crop grown under Mediterranean conditions. The effects of nitrification inhibitors were also compared to those of N fertilization without inhibitors and with split N application. In plots fertilized with ammonium sulphate nitrate (ASN), either DCD or DMPP lengthened ammonium presence in soil and produced lower soil NO3- concentrations (30% lower than in plots with no inhibitor). The use of DCD or DMPP achieved significant reductions in nitrate leaching. DCD showed excellent properties for controlling nitrate leaching, taking into account the fact that grain yield and N accumulated by plant were similar for the ASN-DCD and ASN treatments applied at the same N doses. The split N treatment did not offer any advantages in terms of leached nitrate, either with the use of single ammonium sulphate nitrate (ASN) or with single application of nitrification inhibitors. The nitrification inhibitors did not increase the yield but did not reduce it either. The drainage rate was the most important component of nitrate leaching. The low drainage values of the first year resulted in a sharp decline of nitrate leaching. However, the experiment of the second year, showed clear differences in nitrate leaching between treatments due to the greater drainage.
Modelling leaf development in Oxalis latifolia
Authors: Royo-Esnal A. , Lopez-Fernandez M. L.
Published: November 2013

This study was carried to develop functions that could explain the growth of Oxalis latifolia, in both early stages and throughout the season, contributing to the improvement of its cultural control. Bulbs of the Cornwall form of O. latifolia were buried at 1 and 8 cm in March 1999 and 2000. Samples were destructive at fixed times, and at each time the corresponding BBCH scale codes as well as the absolute number of growing and adult leaves were noted. Using the absolute number of adult leaves (transformed to percentages), a Gaussian curve of three parameters that explains the growth during the season (R2=0.9355) was developed. The BBCH scale permitted the fit of two regression lines that were accurately adjusted for each burial depth (R2=0.9969 and R2=0.9930 respectively for 1 and 8 cm). The best moment for an early defoliation in Northern Spain could be calculated with these regression lines, and was found to be the second week of May. In addition, it was observed that a burial depth of 8 cm does not affect the growing pattern of the weed, but it affects the number of leaves they produce, which decreases to less than a half of those produced at 1 cm.
Characterization of beekeeping wastes for using in seedling production
Authors: Morales-Corts R. , Gomez-Sanchez M. A. , Perez-Sanchez R. , Prieto-Calvo C.
Published: November 2013

In the present work, different strategies for the utilization of an organic beekeeping waste called “slumgum” were analysed. Slumgum appears in the beeswax-rendering process. A physico-chemical characterization was carried out and the hypothesis that slumgum could be used as nutrient source and growth substrate constituent for seedling production was tested. Analyses revealed that slumgum has an important potential for fertilization: 6.10% N, 0.23% P and 0.4% K, with a total organic matter average content of 78.63%. Also, some disadvantages such as an overly acid pH and high electrical conductivity were found. Assays of seedling production were carried out for two years and lettuce and pepper were used as model crops. Treatments were performed mixing different slumgum formats [minced slumgum (MS), slumgum-gypsum granules (SG) and slumgum-superphosphate granules (SC)] with peat (Pe): 25MS-75Pe (in %), 33MS-67Pe, 25SG-75Pe, 33SG-67Pe, 25SC-75Pe and 33SC-67Pe. Controls were no fertilized peat, organic and mineral commercial fertilizers. The best results for lettuce and pepper leaf area, shoot dry weight, and N percentage in leaf were obtained when treatment 25MS-75Pe was applied. Moreover for treatments 25SG-75Pe, no significant differences were observed with respect to the controls in seedbed parameters. Important reductions in emergence and seedling production were detected with SC, most probably due to their high acidity. Results suggest that MS (25MS-75Pe and 33MS-67Pe) and 25SG-75Pe offer a relevant nutritional potential and their high organic matter contents allow them to be considered as organic fertilizers.
Short communication. First detection of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) in Spanish honeybees
Authors: Kukielka D. , Sanchez-Vizcaino J. M.
Published: November 2013

Spanish bee samples were analyzed for the presence of Israel Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV). Some of these samples were collected from colonies presenting compatible symptoms with the colony collapse disorder (CCD, 240 out of 484) and the rest were asymptomatic. Only one of these samples was diagnosed as positive to IAPV by employing a one step RT-PCR that targets the ORF 2 of the IAPV genome. Specificity of the RT-PCR assay was evaluated by sequence analysis of size specific amplification products. IAPV nucleotide sequences already published in GeneBank were used to construct a phylogenetic tree that included the new Spanish IAPV sequence (FJ821506). They segregated in two main lineages and the Spanish isolate was mainly related with the American ones. As IAPV was detected in Spain in a very low frequency, no causal relation between IAPV and CCD in Spain was found.
Mobile Parallel Manipulators, Modelling and Data-Driven Motion Planning
Authors: Khoukhi Amar , Hamdan Mutaz
Published: November 2013

This paper provides a kinematic and dynamic analysis of mobile parallel manipulators (MPM). The study is conducted on a composed multi-degree of freedom (DOF) parallel robot carried by a wheeled mobile platform. Both positional and differential kinematics problems for the hybrid structure are solved, and the redundancy problem is solved using joint limit secondary criterion-based generalized-pseudo-inverse. A minimum time trajectory parameterization is obtained via cycloidal profile to initialize multi-objective trajectory planning of the MPM. Considered objectives include time energy minimization redundancy resolution and singularity avoidance. Simulation results illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach are presented and discussed.
Remote Inspection, Measurement and Handling for Maintenance and Operation at CERN
Authors: Kershaw Keith , Feral Bruno , Grenard Jean-Louis , Feniet Thierry , De Man Sven , Hazelaar-Bal Cathelijne , Bertone Caterina , Ingo Ruehl
Published: November 2013

Remote inspection, measurement and handling techniques are under development for use in CERN's particle accelerator facilities to reduce radiation exposure of personnel and reduce facility downtime when scheduled maintenance or breakdown repairs are needed. This paper gives an explanation of the potential benefits to CERN of remote inspection, measurement and handling along with a brief history of remote handling work at CERN. Recent projects are then described, covering the development work and operations forming part of CERN's recent remote inspection, measurement and handling activities.
GuideBot. A Tour Guide System Based on Mobile Robots
Authors: López Joaquín , Pérez Diego , Santos María , Cacho Miguel
Published: November 2013

There is a growing interest in the use of tour guide mobile robots in different environments such as museums, exhibitions and fairs. This type of robot should have autonomy, robust perception and navigation systems, and should also be oriented towards close interaction with humans.

In this paper we present an automatic tour guide system based on a set of mobile platforms that interact with visitors to help them in different tasks. These tasks include giving tours to visitors, helping them find points of interest in a building and providing information about elements in the stands in a fair.

Over the last few years, many tour guide robots have been developed and used in museums and at events. Most of these systems are based on a single robot and they do not include mechanisms to exchange information with the building automation system. The approach presented here uses several robots connected to a central server. The system also includes different devices in the building that are connected through a fieldbus to the central server.

The system was developed with the Robotics Integrated Development Environment (RIDE) and was tested intensively at different events.
Control of a Quadrotor Using a Smart Self-Tuning Fuzzy PID Controller
Authors: Gautam Deepak , Ha Cheolkeun
Published: November 2013

This paper deals with the modelling, simulation-based controller design and path planning of a four rotor helicopter known as a quadrotor. All the drags, aerodynamic, coriolis and gyroscopic effect are neglected. A Newton-Euler formulation is used to derive the mathematical model. A smart self-tuning fuzzy PID controller based on an EKF algorithm is proposed for the attitude and position control of the quadrotor. The PID gains are tuned using a self-tuning fuzzy algorithm. The self-tuning of fuzzy parameters is achieved based on an EKF algorithm. A smart selection technique and exclusive tuning of active fuzzy parameters is proposed to reduce the computational time. Dijkstra's algorithm is used for path planning in a closed and known environment filled with obstacles and/or boundaries. The Dijkstra algorithm helps avoid obstacle and find the shortest route from a given initial position to the final position.
LGOH-Based Discriminant Centre-Surround Saliency Detection
Authors: Lin Lili , Zhou Wenhui
Published: November 2013

Discriminant saliency is a kind of decision-theoretic-based saliency detection method that has been proposed recently. Based on local gradient distribution, this paper proposes a simple but efficient discriminant centre-surround hypothesis, and builds local and global saliency models by combining multi-scale intensity contrast with colour and orientation features. This method makes three important contributions. First, a circular and multi-scale hierarchical centre-surround profile is designed for the local saliency detection. Secondly, the dense local gradient orientation histogram (LGOH) of the centre-surround region is counted and used for the local saliency analysis. And thirdly, a new integration strategy for the local and global saliency is proposed and applied to the final visual saliency discriminant. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared with 12 state-of-the-art saliency detection models, the proposed method outperforms the others in precision-recall, F-measures and mean absolute error (MAE), and can produce a more complete salient object.
Functional Oxide Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Dyes
Authors: Singh Sarika , Barick K. C. , Bahadur D.
Published: November 2013

Water scarcity and its contamination with toxic metal ions and organic dyes represent a serious worldwide problem in the 21st century. A wide range of conventional approaches have been used to remove these contaminants from waste. Recently, nanotechnology has been given great scope for the fabrication of desirable nanomaterials with large surface-to-volume ratios and unique surface functionalities to treat these pollutants. Amongst these, oxide-based nanomaterials emerge as promising new materials for water purification. In this review article, we explore a broad-spectrum overview of recent developments in the area of oxide-based nanomaterials, such as Fe3O4, ZnO and TiO2, as well as their binary and ternary nanocomposites, for the removal of various toxic metal ions and organic dyes. The possible adsorption mechanism and the surface modification of adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions and dyes are discussed in detail. The sorption properties of the different adsorbents depend on the surface functionalization of nanomaterials, the pH of the medium, and the reaction time and concentration, etc. In addition, we provide a short overview on the study of the selective adsorbents in multi-component sorption systems, along with the future prospects of oxide nanomaterials in water purification.
A expansão urbana no planalto de Campos do Jordão: diagnóstico geomorfológico para fins de planejamento
Authors: Modenesi-Gauttieri May Christine , Hiruma Silvio Takashi
Published: November 2013

Parte do bloco principal da serra da Mantiqueira, o planalto de Campos do Jordão sofreu nas últimas décadas o impacto de uma expansão urbana contínua e desordenada, que aumentou as condições naturais de instabilidade próprias do planalto. A evolução quaternária sob climas de altitude deu origem ao sistema de paisagem atual, o geossistema dos altos campos, caracterizado por estrutura em equilíbrio precário, extremamente vulnerável ao uso inadequado do solo e a riscos ambientais urbanos. Num relevo acentuado como o do planalto, com encostas íngremes, o conhecimento das características geomorfológicas do sítio urbano é da maior importância para planejamento do desenvolvimento urbano e de interferências deliberadas no espaço natural. O mapeamento da evolução urbana (1973, 1982, 2000) evidencia de forma nítida a intensificação do crescimento urbano nas últimas décadas e seus efeitos na descaracterização do mosaico original da vegetação. Mapeamento geomorfológico de detalhe (1:8000) foi realizado por amostragem em três áreas do vale do Capivari/Sapucaí-Guaçu, com base em trabalhos de campo e interpretação de fotos aéreas e imagens de satélite. Os compartimentos identificados anteriormente nos altos campos do planalto, como unidades dinâmicas da paisagem, caracterizadas por formas, materiais, solos, vegetação e processos próprios, constituíram a base do diagnóstico geomorfológico. Dez unidades diagnóstico foram definidas, cada uma com aptidões específicas quanto aos riscos associados ao desenvolvimento urbano. Essas unidades foram finalmente agrupadas em três classes, de acordo com a vulnerabilidade aos processos erosivos e adequação à ocupação.
Litofácies e prováveis ambientes de sedimentação do Grupo São Roque na região de Votorantim e Salto de Pirapora, SP
Authors: Fernandes da Silva Paulo Cesar
Published: November 2013

O presente estudo teve como objetivo a descrição e caracterização de fácies sedimentares das rochas proterozóicas pertencentes ao Grupo São Roque, aflorantes na região que compreende as cidades de Votorantim e Salto de Pirapora e arredores (sudeste do Estado de São Paulo). O levantamento foi efetuado na escala 1:50.000, e incluiu uma análise geológico-estrutural que procurou dar suporte ao entendimento da distribuição espacial das fácies sedimentares e do empilhamento estratigráfico. Quatro associações de litofácies foram reconhecidas na área de estudo, que da base para o topo correspondem a: A. associação siliciclástica basal, correspondendo a uma deposição em águas profundas predominantemente associada a uma sucessão turbidítica; B.associação siliciclástica intermediária, correspondendo a uma plataforma rasa de características progradantes; C.associação clasto-química transicional, aqui interpretada como uma transição de ambientes deposicionais de uma plataforma rasa para uma planície de maré mista (intramaré a intermaré); D. associação carbonática impura superior, representando as porções mais proximais e superiores de uma planície de maré (intermaré a supramaré). Estas associações foram informalmente correlacionadas às subdivisões estratigráficas sugeridas para o Grupo São Roque em trabalhos anteriores (particularmente as formações Estrada dos Romeiros, Voturuna e Pirapora).
Inhibitory Effects of the Edible Mushroom Flammulina velutipes on Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Cells
Authors: Yasuhito Nobushi  , Yuki Hamada  , Ken Yasukawa
Published: November 2013

We investigated the inhibitory effect of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes on intracellular lipid accumulation. Among the five fractions of the F. velutipes extract, the acetone fraction had an inhibitory effect on intracellular lipid accumulation. Seven known compounds were isolated from the acetone fraction: methyl linoleate, methyl γ-linolenate, ergosterol, ergosta-5,7-dien-3β-ol, ergost-7-en-3β-ol, ergosterol peroxide, and 5,6-epoxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-7,22-dien-3β-ol. Ergosterol peroxide exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the intracellular lipid accumulation. Our results indicate that ergosterol peroxide may be important as an anti-obesity agent since it inhibits the metabolic syndrome.
The Investigation of Benzoic Acid Amounts in Some Foodstuffs Consumed in Ankara Region
Authors: Gülderen Güzel  , Buket Er  , Burak Demirhan  , Gülderen Yentür  , Aysel Bayhan Öktem
Published: November 2013

Benzoic acid and its salts are commonly used as a preservatives in food products. Excess amounts of benzoic acid can be harmful to human health. Therefore, the determination of benzoic acid is important in routine analysis of foods. The aim of this study was to determine amounts ofbenzoic acids in some foodstuffs and to evaluate whether these amounts were within the Turkish Food Codex (TFC) values or not. For this purpose, total number of 80 samples consisting of 20 ketchup (A, B firms), 20 sauce (C, D firms) and 40 jam samples (E, F, G, H, I, J, K firms) were collected from supermarkets, Ankara Region. In this research, spectrophotometric method was used for the quantitative determination of benzoic acid in ketchup, sauce and jam samples. Mean amounts (X± S.E) of benzoic acidin ketchupsamples of A and B firm were found as 152.32±18.41 and 1008.21±30.74 mg/kg, respectively. Mean amounts (X± S.E) of benzoic acidin sauce samples of C and D firm were determined as 990.85±26.00 and 1148.19±43.62 mg/kg, respectively. Also, mean amounts (X± S.E) of benzoic acidwere found as 435.27±26.07mg/kg in 8 jam samples of E firm. Our data revealed that while mean amounts of benzoic acid of A and C firms were found within TFC values, benzoic acid amounts of B and D firms samples were higher than the TFC values. Furthermore, some jam samples of firm E was not found appropriate to TFC.
Biological Effects of Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles after Peroral Intake
Authors: N.V. Zaitseva  , M.A. Zemlyanova  , V.N. Zvezdin  , T.I. Akafieva
Published: November 2013

Nanodispersed manganese oxide is a unique substance with a high application potential in nanoelectronics and nanooptics. The scientific literature contains little information about the biological effects and toxic action of this substance after it enters a human body. The biological effects were studied in Wistar rats after intragastric administration of manganese oxide for 30 days. The effects included loss in the body mass, activation of oxidation processes (increased level of lipid hydroperoxides, MDA in the blood serum), decrease in the antioxidant activity (inhibited antioxidant activity in the blood serum), damaged hepatocyte membranes (higher serum AST and ALT levels), and protein synthesizing liver function abnormalities (low albumins, high gamma globulins in the blood serum).
IgE-Mediated Food Allergy; Complications & Implications -
Authors: Lotfollah Behroo
Published: November 2013

IgE-mediated allergic diseases are a major socio-economic problem caused by complex interactions between genes and the environment. In general, the production of IgE and allergic inflammation result from overexpression of T-helper 2[(Th2); IgE-producing T-lymphocyte lineage] type immune responses (type I hypersensitivity reactions) cytokines.On the average, it is estimated that 30-40% of the world population are now, being affected by one or more allergic condition(s) of which food allergies, for the most part, account for this augmentation and consequently embrace a major portion of the affections(up to 20%). Of course, it should be noted that, the vast majority of reactions due to food allergy do not require hospitalisation and, thus, the true number of distinguished/reported cases is still, likely to be significantly higher.Virtually, any food protein can cause clinical syndrome in susceptible individual; however, only a small number of foods are responsible for more than 90 percent of allergic food reactions, and most patients are sensitive to fewer than three foods. In children, the most common foods causing reactions are egg, milk, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts and fish. Adults most often react to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.Despite allergy to food proteins having been known for many years, there is little information on whether food antigens are increased in these conditions and how much antigen is absorbed as well as, the biological activity of the absorbed allergen. One explanation could be the limitations of sensitive analytic methods for analyzing food proteins in human serum.On the other part, current curative cares under evaluation include strategies to block IgE or IgE synthesis and to interrupt the Th2-dependent allergic cascade.Altogether, the thing of noteworthy is that, a determined effort using the best appropriate food allergy diagnostic technics would be certainly required in order to, produce the most clinically effective/safe patient results and, develop any effectual/promising therapeutic approaches for IgE-mediated food allergies owing to their epidemic worldwide increase in prevalence and morbidity.
Enrichment of Bio-Active Phthalides in Celery Seed Oil
Authors: Halagur B. Sowbhagya  , Pullabhatla Srinivas
Published: November 2013

Objective: To develop an efficient process to obtain a phthalide-enriched nutraceutical fraction from celery seed oil.Methods: Three approaches viz., fractional distillation, column chromatography and solvent-solvent partition, have been used.Results: Fractional distillation of celery seed oil (13.7g) afforded i) a limonene-rich fraction (7.6g, 97% purity), ii) a fraction containing β-selinene (2.8 g, 90 % purity) and iii) one containing phthalides (2.9 g, 90 % purity). Solvent-solvent partition of celery seed oil gave limonene (87%) and a fraction containing phthalides (49%), which on further fractionation afforded a phthalide-enriched fraction (90%). By conventional silica gel column chromatography, a product rich in phthalides (53-74%) could be obtained.Conclusion: Fractional distillation is shown to be a viable method to process celery seed oil into a phthalide-enriched product with high nutraceutical potential.
Progression and Death as Competing Risks in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Eulenburg Christine , Mahner Sven , Woelber Linn , Wegscheider Karl
Published: November 2013

Background: Progression of a cancer disease and dying without progression can be understood as competing risks. The Cause-Specific Hazards Model and the Fine and Gray model on cumulative incidences are common statistical models to handle this problem. The pseudo value approach by Andersen and Klein is also able to cope with competing risks. It is still unclear which model suits best in which situation.
Methods: For a simulated dataset and a real data example of ovarian cancer patients who are exposed to progression and death the three models are examined. We compare the three models with regards to interpretation and modeling requirements.
Results: In this study, the parameter estimates for the competing risks are similar from the Cause-Specific Hazards Model and the Fine and Gray model. The pseudo value approach yields divergent results which are heavily dependent on modeling details.
Conclusions: The investigated approaches do not exclude each other but moreover complement one another. The pseudo value approach is an alternative that circumvents proportionality assumptions. As in all survival analyses, situations with low event rates should be interpreted carefully.
Long-Run Macroeconomic Determinants of Cancer Incidence
Authors: Ferretti Fabrizio , Jones Simon , McIntosh Bryan
Published: November 2013

Background: Understanding how cancer incidence evolves during economic growth is useful for forecasting the economic impact of cancerous diseases, and for governing the process of resources allocation in planning health services. We analyse the relationship between economic growth and cancer incidence in order to describe and measure the influence of an increasing real per capita income on the overall rate of cancer incidence.
Method: We test the relationship between real per capita income and the overall rate of cancer incidence with a cross-sectional analysis, using data from the World Bank and the World Health Organization databases, for 165 countries in 2008. We measure the elasticity of cancer incidence with respect to per capita income, and we decompose the elasticities coefficients into two components: age-effect and lifestyle-effect.
Results: An Engel’s model, in a double-log quadratic specification, explains about half of the variations in the age-standardised rates and nearly two thirds of the variations in the incidence crude rates. All the elasticities of the crude rates are positive, but less than one. The income elasticity of the age-standardised rates are negative in lower income countries, and positive (around 0.25 and 0.32) in upper middle and high income countries, respectively.
Conclusions: These results are used to develop a basic framework in order to explain how demand-side economic structural changes may affect the long run evolution of cancer incidence. At theoretical level, a J-Curve is a possible general model to represents, other things being equal, how economic growth influence cancer incidence.
Cooking Up Change: Family Cookbooks as Markers of Shifting Kitchen Politics
Authors: Weiskopf-Ball Emily
Published: November 2013

Despite the recent academic attention community cookbooks have finally been granted, little has been said about compiled family cookbooks. Even works such as Janet Theophano's Eat My Words, Andrea Eidinger’s "Gefilte Fish and Roast Duck with Orange Slices": A Treasure for My Daughter and the Creation of a Jewish Cultural Orthodoxy in Postwar Montreal” and Marie Drews’ examination of In Memory's Kitchen, are about works by, and for, an entire community rather than for family. Furthermore, though gender critics have long documented the imbalance of food-related work in the home by showing that women have always been the primary food makers, one cannot deny that the makeup of modern families has changed and that men and children are becoming more active in the kitchen. Drawing on past and current literature to analyse a family cookbook I made and gave to my cousin for her wedding, this essay draws academic attention to family cookbooks and family food practices. While the cookbook I analyse is predominantly feminine, the many male and child voices included in this collection, voices that are usually excluded from such works, prove that, when given a chance, these often silenced groups can, and do, impact a family's food habits.
Politicized Spaces and Public Intimacy: The Cookery Books of Henrietta Maria and Elizabeth Cromwell
Authors: Grant Priya
Published: November 2013

Throughout the periods of the Protectorate and Restoration, images and texts concerning Henrietta Maria and Elizabeth Cromwell were widely circulated for public consumption. Two such documents, themselves examples of royalist propaganda, took the form of recipe books entitled, Queens Closet Opened and The Court & Kitchin of Elizabeth, commonly called Joan Cromwel. These books were published within the same decade, within which the Protectorate failed and the Restoration began. Both highlight the failures of Elizabeth, as representative of the protectorate, and praise Henrietta Maria as an emblem of the monarchy, both past and present. This article examines these cookery books in relation to the political movements the two women inevitably came to represent.
Spatial self-organization favors heterotypic cooperation over cheating
Authors: Momeni Babak , Waite Adam James , Shou Wenying
Published: November 2013

Heterotypic cooperation—two populations exchanging distinct benefits that are costly to produce—is widespread. Cheaters, exploiting benefits while evading contribution, can undermine cooperation. Two mechanisms can stabilize heterotypic cooperation. In ‘partner choice’, cooperators recognize and choose cooperating over cheating partners; in ‘partner fidelity feedback’, fitness-feedback from repeated interactions ensures that aiding your partner helps yourself. How might a spatial environment, which facilitates repeated interactions, promote fitness-feedback? We examined this process through mathematical models and engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains incapable of recognition. Here, cooperators and their heterotypic cooperative partners (partners) exchanged distinct essential metabolites. Cheaters exploited partner-produced metabolites without reciprocating, and were competitively superior to cooperators. Despite initially random spatial distributions, cooperators gained more partner neighbors than cheaters did. The less a cheater contributed, the more it was excluded and disfavored. This self-organization, driven by asymmetric fitness effects of cooperators and cheaters on partners during cell growth into open space, achieves assortment.
Essential yet limited role for CCR2+ inflammatory monocytes during Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cell priming
Authors: Samstein Miriam , Schreiber Heidi A , Leiner Ingrid M , Sušac Bože , Glickman Michael S , Pamer Eric G
Published: November 2013

Defense against infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is mediated by CD4 T cells. CCR2+ inflammatory monocytes (IMs) have been implicated in Mtb-specific CD4 T cell responses but their in vivo contribution remains unresolved. Herein, we show that transient ablation of IMs during infection prevents Mtb delivery to pulmonary lymph nodes, reducing CD4 T cell responses. Transfer of MHC class II-expressing IMs to MHC class II-deficient, monocyte-depleted recipients, while restoring Mtb transport to mLNs, does not enable Mtb-specific CD4 T cell priming. On the other hand, transfer of MHC class II-deficient IMs corrects CD4 T cell priming in monocyte-depleted, MHC class II-expressing mice. Specific depletion of classical DCs does not reduce Mtb delivery to pulmonary lymph nodes but markedly reduces CD4 T cell priming. Thus, although IMs acquire characteristics of DCs while delivering Mtb to lymph nodes, cDCs but not moDCs induce proliferation of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells.
Position of UNC-13 in the active zone regulates synaptic vesicle release probability and release kinetics
Authors: Zhou Keming , Stawicki Tamara M , Goncharov Alexandr , Jin Yishi
Published: November 2013

The presynaptic active zone proteins UNC-13/Munc13s are essential for synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis by directly interacting with SV fusion apparatus. An open question is how their association with active zones, hence their position to Ca2+ entry sites, regulates SV release. The N-termini of major UNC-13/Munc13 isoforms contain a non-calcium binding C2A domain that mediates protein homo- or hetero-meric interactions. Here, we show that the C2A domain of Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-13 regulates release probability of evoked release and its precise active zone localization. Kinetics analysis of SV release supports that the proximity of UNC-13 to Ca2+ entry sites, mediated by the C2A-domain containing N-terminus, is critical for accelerating neurotransmitter release. Additionally, the C2A domain is specifically required for spontaneous release. These data reveal multiple roles of UNC-13 C2A domain, and suggest that spontaneous release and the fast phase of evoked release may involve a common pool of SVs at the active zone.
Is stress accumulating on the creeping section of the San Andreas fault?
Authors: Johnson K. M.
Published: November 2013

The creeping section of the San Andreas fault (CSAF) in central California is a proposed barrier to propagation of large earthquakes. Yet, recent studies show that the creeping section is not entirely uncoupled but is accumulating slip deficit at a rate equivalent to a Mw=7.2–7.4 earthquake every 150years. A critical piece to understanding earthquake potential on the CSAF is determining whether slip deficit is occurring with stress accumulation on stick‒slip regions or without stress accumulation on stable‒sliding regions shadowed by surrounding locked areas. We use a physical model to estimate the spatial distribution of locked, stress‒accumulating areas of the fault constrained by surface creep rate measurements and GPS‒derived velocities. We find that the area of the fault accumulating stress, if ruptured every 150years, would release slip equivalent to at most a Mw=6.75 earthquake, significantly less than the Mw=7.2–7.4, 150year equivalent total slip deficit rate.
EN4: Quality controlled ocean temperature and salinity profiles and monthly objective analyses with uncertainty estimates
Authors: Good Simon A. , Martin Matthew J. , Rayner Nick A.
Published: November 2013

We present version 4 of the Met Office Hadley Centre “EN” series of data sets of global quality controlled ocean temperature and salinity profiles and monthly objective analyses, which covers the period 1900 to present. We briefly describe the EN4 data sources, processing, quality control procedures, and the method of generating the analyses. In particular, we highlight improvements relative to previous versions, which include a new duplicate profile removal procedure and the inclusion of three new quality control checks. We discuss in detail a novel method for providing uncertainty estimates for the objective analyses and improving the background error variance estimates used by the analysis system. These were calculated using an iterative method that is relatively robust to initial misspecification of background error variances. We also show how the method can be used to identify issues with the analyses such as those caused by misspecification of error variances and demonstrate the impact of changes in the observing system on the uncertainty in the analyses.
Using FTIR measurements of stratospheric composition to identify midlatitude polar vortex intrusions over Toronto
Authors: Whaley C. , Strong K. , Adams C. , Bourassa A. E. , Daffer W. H. , Degenstein D. A. , Fast H. , Fogal P. F. , Manney G. L. , Mittermeier R. L. , Pavlovic B. , Wiacek A.
Published: November 2013

Using 11 years of trace gas measurements made at the University of Toronto Atmospheric Observatory (43.66°N, 79.40°W) and Environment Canada's Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments (44.23°N, 79.78°W), along with derived meteorological products, we identify a number of polar intrusion events, which are excursions of the polar vortex or filaments from the polar vortex extending down to midlatitudes. These events are characterized by enhanced stratospheric columns (12–50 km) of hydrogen fluoride (HF), by diminished stratospheric columns of nitrous oxide (N2O), and by a scaled potential vorticity above 1.2 × 10−4s−1. The events comprise 16%of winter/spring (November to April inclusive) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements from January 2002 to March 2013, and we find at least two events per year. The events are corroborated by Modèle Isentrope du transport Méso‐échelle de l'Ozone Stratosphérique par Advection, Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications potential vorticity maps, and Global Modeling Initiative N2O maps. During polar intrusion events, the stratospheric ozone (O3) columns over Toronto are usually greater than when there is no event. Our O3 measurements agree with the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imaging System satellite instrument and are further verified with the Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer and Ozone Monitoring Instrument satellite observations. We find six cases out of 53 for which chemical O3depletion within the polar vortex led to a reduction in stratospheric O3 columns over Toronto. We have thus identified a dynamical cause for most of the winter/spring variability of stratospheric trace gas columns observed at our midlatitude site. While there have been a number of prior polar intrusion studies, this is the first study to report in the context of 11 years of ground‐based FTIR column measurements, providing insight into the frequency of midlatitude polar vortex intrusions and observations of upper stratospheric (25–50 km) intrusions. It is also the first to present HF measurements during multiple polar intrusions, which provided an excellent tracer for their identification.
Transition Metal‐Free Regioselective C‐3 Amidation of Indoles with N‐Fluorobenzenesulfonimide
Authors: Liu Hai‐Hong , Wang Yi , Deng Guojun , Yang Luo
Published: November 2013

A direct transition metal‐free regioselective C‐3 amidation of indoles has been developed with the commercially available N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as the amino source under external oxidant‐free conditions. This amidation requires only a catalytic amount of base and exhibits excellent functional group tolerance and regioselectivity. The C‐3 regioselectivity was proposed to realize by a free radical mechanism.

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The significance of serum total immunoglobulin E for in vitro diagnosis of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Chung Daniel , Park K.T. , Yarlagadda Bharat , Davis Elizabeth Mahoney , Platt Michael
Published: November 2013

Background

Allergic rhinitis is diagnosed by clinical parameters with no widely accepted screening test. Measurement of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) has limited use in the general population due to a low negative predictive value. The value of total IgE level in select populations undergoing in vitro allergy testing remains unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the utility of total serum IgE in the in vitro diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing testing for allergic rhinitis was performed. Clinical parameters, total IgE level, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum‐specific IgE levels were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. The positive and negative predictive values and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess the utility of total IgE in predicting serum‐specific IgE test results.

Results

Records from 1073 patients were reviewed. ROC curve for total IgE >150 IU/mL (Σ 0.88) indicates good discrimination in identifying patients with sensitization by in vitro testing, whereas low total IgE level had strong negative predictive value (0.87, IgE <10) in identifying negative specific IgE testing. Multivariate logistic regression showed that differences in covariables did not significantly change the odds of a positive in vitro allergy test panel.

Conclusion

Serum total IgE level is useful in the in vitro diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. In vitro testing for specific IgE may be unnecessary in patients with low serum total IgE, whereas high total IgE level suggests that in vitro testing would confirm specific sensitizations in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Over‐expression of Rap2a inhibits glioma migration and invasion by down‐regulating p‐AKT
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhan Wenjian , Xie Shao , Hu Jinxia , Shi Qiong , Zhou Xiuping , Wu Yuxuan , Wang Shiquan , Fei Zhou , Yu Rutong
Published: November 2013

Ras‐oncogenic pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of various tumours in humans, in which mutations of three canonical genes including H‐Ras, N‐Ras and K‐Ras are the most common events. Dysregulation of Ras signalling can be tumourigenic, especially gliomas of the central nervous system. Rap proteins are members of the small GTPase superfamily that involved in many biological processes. However, it remains largely unclear as to whether and how Rap proteins are involved in the development of multiple gliomas. We found that the levels of the protein Rap2a and the activity of Rap2a (GTP‐Rap2a) were weakly expressed in glioma tissues. Overexpressed Rap2a significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells with an increase of GTP‐Rap2a. Overexpression of the dominant‐active (DA‐Rap2a), but not the dominant‐negative (DN‐Rap2a) form of Rap2a, also similarly inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells by reducing the phosphorylation level of AKT. In contrast, downregulation of Rap2a promoted glioma migration and invasion, and raised the phosphorylation level of AKT, whereas these effects were inhibited by PI3K‐specific inhibitor, LY294002. Thus unlike the other family members of Ras, Rab2a probably serves as a tumour suppressor in the pathogenesis of glioma.
Loss of Bcl‐2 expression correlates with increasing sensitivity to apoptosis in differentiating ES cells
Authors: Nagahara Yukitoshi , Morita Misa , Nakata Tsubasa , Iba Akitoshi , Shinomiya Takahisa
Published: November 2013

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts and have a pluripotency to differentiate into a variety of cell types. ES cells have high resistance to environmental stress compared to functional cells, which can undergo apoptosis when stressed. We have investigated whether ES cells have resistance to multiple types of stress or selective stress. Phytosphingosine (PHS) and staurosporine (STS) were used as chemical stressors. PHS induced mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis in several cell lines. STS is a protein kinase inhibitor that induces apoptosis even without mitochondrial involvement. PHS treatment damaged 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, but did not damage ES cells. STS damaged ES cells as well as 3T3 mouse fibroblasts at similar doses. Susceptibility to cell damage is correlated with the retention of the mitochondrial membrane potential. PHS treatment could induce DNA fragmentation in differentiated ES cells. Differences in cell‐death susceptibility between the undifferentiated and differentiated states showed that the mitochondria‐localised anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 was highly expressed in undifferentiated ES cells, which gradually decreased during differentiation. These results suggest that undifferentiated mouse ES cells have a high resistance to mitochondria‐involved extracellular stress.
Zebularine significantly sensitises MEC1 cells to external irradiation and radiopharmaceutical therapy when administered sequentially in vitro
Authors: Bryan Jeffrey N. , Kumar Senthil R. , Jia Fang , Balkin Ethan R. , Lewis Michael R.
Published: November 2013

Zebularine is a cytidine analogue incorporated into DNA during replication, inhibiting DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), resulting in demethylation and changes in gene expression. Such modification may improve radiosensitivity in resistant lymphoma cells. The hypothesis of this study was that zebularine and radiation would synergistically inhibit cell growth and viability. Human MEC1 malignant B cells were incubated with 0–200 µM zebularine for 48 h. Media containing zebularine was removed, and the cells were irradiated with 0–2 Gy of either external beam irradiation or 177Lu‐DOTA‐TATE, a radiolabelled somatostatin analogue. Concentration and viability were measured over 48–72 h. The proportion of apoptotic cells was identified using an active Caspase 3/7 assay. Zebularine inhibited growth of cells in a dose‐dependent manner during exposure. No residual growth inhibition occurred following removal of the drug. Zebularine and external irradiation inhibited cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent, synergistic interaction, but the effect on viability was additive. Treatment with zebularine and 177Lu‐DOTA‐TATE resulted in less inhibition of proliferation (P = 0.0135), but a synergistic decrease in viability. Apoptotic fraction was much higher in cells irradiated with 177Lu‐DOTA‐TATE than external irradiation. External irradiation induces growth arrest rather than apoptosis. Apoptosis is the primary effect of radiopharmaceutical therapy on tumour cells. Treatment with the methylation inhibitor, zebularine, appears to synergistically augment these natural effects in vitro, which could be exploited clinically.