bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wachten op de barbaren: Metageschiedenis in het werk van Peter Blum
Authors: Huigen Siegfried
Published: February 2013

This article explores metahistory in the poetry of Peter Blum. In many of Blum’s poems Western civilisation is confronted with theforces of barbarism, without civilisation necessarily being given preference over barbarism. By focussing on the metahistoricalaspects of Blum’s work, it is possible to illuminate the dialectical relationships between apparently disparate cultural domains inhis work—past and present, Europe and South Africa—which critics up till now have treated as self-contained entities. Fromthis angle, Blum appears to be a poet who was highly critical of white South African culture of the 1950s
Memory, verbal onslaught and persuasive eloquence in Armah’s Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers
Authors: Fubara Angela M.
Published: February 2013

Language dissects thought. In language fortified with calculated verbal vituperation and persuasive eloquence, Ayi Kwei Armah takes his audience down memory lane—a retrospect (in the characteristic manner of the Sankofa model) into the original identity of the African. Sankofa dwells on the idyllic past which serves as a model for a restructured future. One hears the evocative voice of Anoa’s prophecy of two thousand seasons, wandering along other ways and finding paths of living way. The way is glaringly replete with verbal bullets with which Armah dwells on the Blackman’s indulgence. This gives rise to the flagrant losing of “the way” to the “predators” and “destroyers” in Two Thousand Seasons. In his advocacy for a restoration to the forgotten way, Armah’s verbal onslaught provokes sharp awakening that propels the people to a positive action to recover the lost way into “understanding the mind beyond despair to healing work”. In The Healers therefore, Armah’s in-depth philosophies led by the master healer, Damfo and the trainee healer, Densu provide keys to the restoration of black people and racial renewal. The focus of this study is Armah’s eloquent intellectual expressions: evocative poetic lamentation, prophecy, symbolism, and studded imagery of brutality, servitude and restoration. The work concludes by demonstrating Armah’s achievements with the deployment of linguistic weapons. Has he succeeded in making his reader / audience see clearly the Blackman’s annals of misdemeanor and the consequences? How realistic is his redemptive posture into Ebibirman; the liberated community of black people? This is the crux of this paper intertwined with Sankofa.
Culturalisme et réflexion existentialiste— Une lecture de Retour de manivelle de Julien Kilanga Musinde
Authors: Mwepu Patrick Kabeya
Published: February 2013

Published in 2008, the novel Retour de manivelle by Julien Kilanga Musinde revives the unfinished debate related to the search of identity in African writing. The universe depicted represents the modern society and Musinde’s main character is changing as fast as he relocates to a different society. The author depicts this flexibility as a strength that commands the adaptability of the character without suppressing the initial culture of the protagonist. Musinde chooses to freely express his fantasy and, at the same time, integrate his subjective world vision and multidimensional scholarship in the interpretation of the identity. The question of culture being central to the novel, the paper is aimed at demonstrating, however, that the culture that is depicted as both exclusive and dynamic in Musinde’s work should be understood mainly in cyclic perception in which both the starting and the arrival points are joining in a unique individual subjectivity, such a subjectivity having the potential of engendering a new discourse by attempting to juxtapose conflicting ways of life. The paper also demonstrates how Musinde distances himself from the materialistic world vision commonly expressed by existentialists and Epicurean philosophers. This attitude allows the author to reflect on the interconnectivity between the immediate empirical reality and the world beyond from the perspective of a transnational African intellectual in a globalizing world.
Composition and evolution of volcanic aerosol from eruptions of Kasatochi, Sarychev and Eyjafjallajökull in 2008–2010 based on CARIBIC observations
Authors: Andersson S. M. , Martinsson B. G. , Friberg J. , Brenninkmeijer C. A. M. , Rauthe-Schöch A. , Hermann M. , van Velthoven P. F. J. , Zahn A.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Large volcanic eruptions impact significantly on climate and lead to ozone depletion due to injection of particles and gases into the stratosphere where their residence times are long. In this the composition of volcanic aerosol is an important but inadequately studied factor. Samples of volcanically influenced aerosol were collected following the Kasatochi (Alaska), Sarychev (Russia) and also during the Eyjafjallajökull (Iceland) eruptions in the period 2008–2010. Sampling was conducted by the CARIBIC platform during regular flights at an altitude of 10–12 km as well as during dedicated flights through the volcanic clouds from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in spring 2010. Elemental concentrations of the collected aerosol were obtained by accelerator-based analysis. Aerosol from the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic clouds was identified by high concentrations of sulphur and elements pointing to crustal origin, and confirmed by trajectory analysis. Signatures of volcanic influence were also used to detect volcanic aerosol in stratospheric samples collected following the Sarychev and Kasatochi eruptions. In total it was possible to identify 17 relevant samples collected between 1 and more than 100 days following the eruptions studied. The volcanically influenced aerosol mainly consisted of ash, sulphate and included a carbonaceous component. Samples collected in the volcanic cloud from Eyjafjallajökull were dominated by the ash and sulphate component (∼45% each) while samples collected in the tropopause region and LMS mainly consisted of sulphate (50–77%) and carbon (21–43%). These fractions were increasing/decreasing with the age of the aerosol. Because of the long observation period, it was possible to analyze the evolution of the relationship between the ash and sulphate components of the volcanic aerosol. From this analysis the residence time (1/e) of sulphur dioxide in the studied volcanic cloud was estimated to be 45 ± 22 days.
Evaluation of factors controlling global secondary organic aerosol production from cloud processes
Authors: He C. , Liu J. , Carlton A. G. , Fan S. , Horowitz L. W. , Levy II H. , Tao S.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) exert a significant influence on ambient air quality and regional climate. Recent field, laboratorial and modeling studies have confirmed that in-cloud processes contribute to a large fraction of SOA production with large space-time heterogeneity. This study evaluates the key factors that govern the production of cloud-process SOA (SOAcld) on a global scale based on the GFDL coupled chemistry-climate model AM3 in which full cloud chemistry is employed. The association between SOAcld production rate and six factors (i.e., liquid water content (LWC), total carbon chemical loss rate (TCloss), temperature, VOC/NOx, OH, and O3) is examined. We find that LWC alone determines the spatial pattern of SOAcld production, particularly over the tropical, subtropical and temperate forest regions, and is strongly correlated with SOAcld production. TCloss ranks the second and mainly represents the seasonal variability of vegetation growth. Other individual factors are essentially uncorrelated spatiotemporally to SOAcld production. We find that the rate of SOAcld production is simultaneously determined by both LWC and TCloss, but responds linearly to LWC and nonlinearly (or concavely) to TCloss. A parameterization based on LWC and TCloss can capture well the spatial and temporal variability of the process-based SOAcld formation (R2 = 0.5) and can be easily applied to global three dimensional models to represent the SOA production from cloud processes.
Characterisation of GOME-2 formaldehyde retrieval sensitivity
Authors: Hewson W. , Bösch H. , Barkley M. P. , De Smedt I.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Formaldehyde (CH2O) is an important tracer of tropospheric photochemistry, whose slant column abundance can be retrieved from satellite measurements of solar backscattered UV radiation, using differential absorption retrieval techniques. In this work a spectral fitting sensitivity analysis is conducted on CH2O slant columns retrieved from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment 2 (GOME-2) instrument. Despite quite different spectral fitting approaches, the retrieved CH2O slant columns have geographic distributions that generally match expected CH2O sources, though the slant column magnitudes and corresponding uncertainties are particularly sensitive to the retrieval set-up. The choice of spectral fitting window, polynomial order, I0 correction, and inclusion of minor absorbers tend to result in the largest modulations of retrieved slant column magnitude and fit quality. However, application of a reference sector correction using observations over the remote Pacific Ocean is shown to largely homogenise the resulting CH2O vertical columns obtained with different retrieval settings, thereby largely reducing any systematic error sources from spectral fitting.
Long-term trends in the ionospheric F2 region with different solar activity indices
Authors: Mielich J. , Bremer J.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. A new comprehensive data collection by Damboldt and Suessmann (2012a) with monthly foF2 and M(3000)F2 median values is an excellent basis for the derivation of long-term trends in the ionospheric F2 region. Ionospheric trends have been derived only for stations with data series of at least 22 years (124 stations with foF2 data and 113 stations with M(3000)F2 data) using a twofold regression analysis depending on solar and geomagnetic activity. Three main results have been derived: Firstly, it could be shown that the solar 10.7 cm radio flux F10.7 is a better index for the description of the solar activity than the relative solar sunspot number R as well as the solar EUV proxy E10.7. Secondly, the global mean foF2 and hmF2 trends derived for the interval between 1948 and 2006 are in surprisingly good agreement with model calculations of an increasing atmospheric greenhouse effect (Rishbeth and Roble, 1992). Thirdly, during the years 2007 until 2009, the hmF2 values and to a smaller amount the foF2 values strongly decrease. The reason for this effect is a reduction of the thermospheric density and ionization due to a markedly reduced solar EUV irradiation and extremely small geomagnetic activity during the solar cycle 23/24 minimum.
Influence of physical and biological processes on the seasonal cycle of biogenic flux in the equatorial Indian Ocean
Authors: Vidya P. J. , Prasanna Kumar S. , Gauns M. , Verenkar A. , Unger D. , Ramaswamy V.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Seasonal cycle of biogenic fluxes obtained from sediment trap at two locations 5° 24′ N, 86° 46′ E (SBBT) and 3° 34′ N, 77° 46′ E (EIOT) within the equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) were examined to understand the factors that control them. The sediment trap data at SBBT were collected for ten years from November 1987 while that at EIOT was for one year period from January 1996. The characteristic of biogenic flux at SBBT was the strong seasonality with peak flux in August, while lack of seasonality characterized the flux at EIOT. At the SBBT and EIOT, the higher chlorophyll biomass during summer monsoon was supported by wind-mixing, which supplied new nitrogen to the upper ocean. The stronger winds at SBBT compared to EIOT resulted in greater entrainment of nutrients to the euphotic zone, which supported higher chlorophyll biomass. High cell counts of phytoplankton (> 5 μm) at SBBT dominated by diatoms suggest the operation of classical food web and high carbon export. On the contrary, one-and-half time higher magnitude of micro-zooplankton biomass dominated by picophytoplankton along with 2-fold lesser meso-zooplankton at EIOT indicated the importance of microbial loop. The substantial decrease in the carbon export at EIOT indicated faster remineralization of photosynthetically produced organic matter. We see a striking similarity between the biological process that operates in the SBBT with that of the equatorial Atlantic and EIOT with that of the equatorial Pacific, though the physical forcing in these three regions, namely EIO, the equatorial Atlantic and the equatorial Pacific, are very different.
Natural variability in hard bottom communities and possible drivers assessed by a time-series study in the SW Baltic Sea: know the noise to detect the change
Authors: Wahl M. , Hinrichsen H.-H. , Lehmann A. , Lenz M.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. In order to detect shifts in community structure and function associated with global change, the natural background fluctuation in these traits must be known. In a 6-yr study we quantified year to year variability of taxonomic and functional composition of benthic hard bottom communities in the Western Baltic. While taxonomic fluctuations were substantial, functionality of the communities seems preserved in most cases. Environmental conditions potentially driving these fluctuations are winter temperatures and current regimes. We tentatively define a confidence range of natural variability in productivity, composition and diversity a departure from which might help identifying an ongoing regime shift driven by global change. In addition, we propose a statistical procedure distinguishing directional shifts ("signal") from natural fluctuations ("noise").
Erosion control blankets, organic amendments and site variability influenced the initial plant community at a limestone quarry in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Authors: Cohen-Fernández A. C. , Naeth M. A.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Season of seeding and soil amendment with manure mix, wood shavings and erosion control blankets were evaluated over two growing seasons to determine their effect on soil properties and native grass establishment at a Canadian limestone quarry and lime processing plant. Season (fall, spring) of soil amending and seeding did not significantly affect revegetation or soil properties. Site characteristics such as slope, aspect, initial soil nutrients and surrounding plant communities influenced early plant community development and overall effects of soil treatments. Erosion control blankets resulted in the highest seeded plant cover and the lowest non seeded plant cover despite not significantly changing soil chemical properties. Total nitrogen and carbon significantly increased establishment of seeded grasses and non seeded species. Increased nitrogen and carbon in the constructed soils were best achieved through addition of manure. Wood shavings did not favour establishment of vegetation and resulted in similar, and in some cases less, vegetation than controls. Assisted revegetation increased plant cover from < 6 to 50% and reduced cover of non seeded species. Amendments that modified both chemical and physical soil conditions were best to increase vegetation establishment in the harsh conditions of the quarry.
High-temperature thermomagnetic properties of vivianite nodules, Lake El'gygytgyn, Northeast Russia
Authors: Minyuk P. S. , Subbotnikova T. V. , Brown L. L. , Murdock K. J.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Vivianite, a hydrated iron phosphate, is abundant in sediments of Lake El'gygytgyn, located in the Anadyr Mountains of central Chukotka, northeastern Russia (67°30′ N, 172°05′ E). Magnetic measurements, including mass-specific low-field AC magnetic susceptibility, field-dependent magnetic susceptibility, hysteresis parameters, temperature dependence of the induced magnetization, as well as susceptibility in different heating media, provide ample information on vivianite nodules. Electron microprobe analyses, electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to identify diagnostic minerals. Vivianite nodules are abundant in both sediments of cold (anoxic) and warm (oxic) stages. Magnetic susceptibility of the nodules varies from 0.78 × 10−6 m3 kg−1 to 1.72 × 10−6 m3 kg−1 (average = 1.05 × 10−6 m3 kg−1) and is higher than the susceptibility of sediments from the cold intervals. Magnetic properties of vivianite are due to the respective product of oxidation as well as sediment and mineral inclusions. Three types of curves for high-temperature dependent susceptibility of vivianite indicate different degrees of oxidation and inclusions in the nodules. Vivianite acts as a reductant and reduces hematite to magnetite and masks the goethite–hematite transition during heating. Heating vivianite and sulfur mixtures stimulates the formation of monoclinic pyrrhotite. An additive of arsenic inhibits the formation of magnetite prior to its Curie temperature. Heating selective vivianite and pyrite mixtures leads to formation of several different minerals – magnetite, monoclinic pyrrhotite, and hexagonal pyrrhotite, and makes it difficult to interpret the thermomagnetic curves.
Unmanned aircraft system measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer over Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica
Authors: Knuth S. L. , Cassano J. J. , Maslanik J. A. , Herrmann P. D. , Kernebone P. A. , Crocker R. I. , Logan N. J.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. In September 2009, a series of long-range unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flights collected basic atmospheric data over the Terra Nova Bay polynya in Antarctica. Air temperature, wind, pressure, relative humidity, radiation, skin temperature, GPS, and operational aircraft data were collected and quality controlled for scientific use. The data have been submitted to the United States Antarctic Program Data Coordination Center (USAP-DCC) for free access (doi:10.1594/USAP/0739464).
Application of a model-based rainfall-runoff database as efficient tool for flood risk management
Authors: Brocca L. , Liersch S. , Melone F. , Moramarco T. , Volk M.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. A framework for a comprehensive synthetic rainfall-runoff database was developed to study catchment response to a variety of rainfall events. The framework supports effective flood risk assessment and management and implements simple approaches. It consists of three flexible components, a rainfall generator, a continuous rainfall-runoff model, and a database management system. The system has been developed and tested at two gauged river sections along the upper Tiber River (central Italy). One of the main questions was to investigate how simple such approaches can be without impairing the quality of the results. The rainfall-runoff model was used to simulate runoff on the basis of a large number of design rainfall events. The resulting rainfall-runoff database can be used as an effective tool to assess possible streamflow situations assuming different rainfall volumes for the previous and the following days. The application to the study site shows that magnitudes of real flood events were appropriately captured by the database within an uncertainty range. Further work should be dedicated to introducing a component for taking account of the actual temporal distribution of rainfall events into the stochastic rainfall generator.
Analysis of servo-constraint problems for underactuated multibody systems
Authors: Seifried R. , Blajer W.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Underactuated multibody systems have fewer control inputs than degrees of freedom. In trajectory tracking control of such systems an accurate and efficient feedforward control is often necessary. For multibody systems feedforward control by model inversion can be designed using servo-constraints. So far servo-constraints have been mostly applied to differentially flat underactuated mechanical systems. Differentially flat systems can be inverted purely by algebraic manipulations and using a finite number of differentiations of the desired output trajectory. However, such algebraic solutions are often hard to find and therefore the servo-constraint approach provides an efficient and practical solution method. Recently first results on servo-constraint problems of non-flat underactuated multibody systems have been reported. Hereby additional dynamics arise, so-called internal dynamics, yielding a dynamical system as inverse model. In this paper the servo-constraint problem is analyzed for both, differentially flat and non-flat systems. Different arising important phenomena are demonstrated using two illustrative examples. Also strategies for the numerical solution of servo-constraint problems are discussed.
Reaction Null Space of a multibody system with applications in robotics
Authors: Nenchev D. N.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. This paper provides an overview of implementation examples based on the Reaction Null Space formalism, developed initially to tackle the problem of satellite-base disturbance of a free-floating space robot, when the robot arm is activated. The method has been applied throughout the years to other unfixed-base systems, e.g. flexible-base and macro/mini robot systems, as well as to the balance control problem of humanoid robots. The paper also includes most recent results about complete dynamical decoupling of the end-link of a fixed-base robot, wherein the end-link is regarded as the unfixed-base. This interpretation is shown to be useful with regard to motion/force control scenarios. Respective implementation results are provided.
Intake of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Increases Omega-3 Index in Aged Male and Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Bačová Barbara , Seč Peter , Čertik Milan , Tribulova Narcis
Published: February 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine whether n-3 PUFA intake affects n-3 and n-6 FA levels in plasma and red blood cells as well as omega-3 index in old male and female spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and healthy rats. Plasma linoleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid increased due to n-3 PUFA intake in SHR and healthy rats. Comparing to healthy rats the levels of PUFA in red blood cells of SHR were lower in males and higher in females with exception of arachidonic acid, which was high in males and low in females. Feeding of rats with n-3 PUFA resulted in increase of red blood cells levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and/or docosahexaenoic acid in a sex- and strain-dependent manner. Moreover, n-3 PUFA intake decreased arachidonic acid in healthy female rats but increased it in SHR and did not affect it in males. Omega-3 index was lower in SHR comparing to healthy rats and it increased due to the consumption of n-3 PUFA. Results point out sex- and strain-related differences in red blood cells levels of n-3 and n-6 PUFA in basal conditions as well as in response to n-3 PUFA intake.
Bioavailability of Oil-Based andβ-Lactoglobulin-Complexed Vitamin A in a Rat Model
Authors: Liu Ying , Shaw Ju-Jean , Swaisgood Harold E. , Allen Jonathan C.
Published: February 2013

β-Lactoglobulin is capable of binding fat-soluble compounds including vitamin A palmitate and is suggested to specifically enhance intestinal uptake of retinol. In this study, bioavailability of a vitamin-A-retinyl palmitate complex in skim milk and in water-based liquids was investigated in vitamin-A-depleted rats. First, rats were fed a vitamin-A-free pellet diet for 6 wk and were thereafter gavage-fed with vitamin A in oil, vitamin-A-β-lactoglobulin complex, vitamin A in oil + skim milk, and vitamin-A-β-lactoglobulin + skim milk for 2 wk and 42 wk. Vitamin A repletion, as judged by vitamin A accumulation in serum and liver, occurred in all the treatments. Vitamin-A-β-lactoglobulin complex treatments had statistical equivalence with oil-based vitamin A treatments. In a second experiment, vitamin-A-depleted rats were fed UHT-processed skim milk fortified with either oil-based or freeze-driedβ-lactoglobulin-complexed retinyl palmitate. Liver and serum vitamin A were analyzed by HPLC to indicate vitamin A status in the rats. Results showed no significant difference in bioavailability of retinyl palmitate from milk made with either regular oil-based orβ-lactoglobulin-complexed fortifiers. The vitamin-A-β-lactoglobulin complex, being water soluble, may be useful for fortification of nonfat products.
Optimization of Cellulase Production from Bacteria Isolated from Soil
Authors: Sethi Sonia , Datta Aparna , Gupta B. Lal , Gupta Saksham
Published: February 2013

Cellulase-producing bacteria were isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilIs, E. coli, and Serratia marcescens. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum cellulase production was carried out. The culture conditions like pH, temperature, carbon sources, and nitrogen sources were optimized. The optimum conditions found for cellulase production were 40°C at pH 10 with glucose as carbon source and ammonium sulphate as nitrogen source, and coconut cake stimulates the production of cellulase. Among bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens is the best cellulase producer among the four followed by Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, and Serratia marscens.
Establishing Mathematics Education as an Academic Field: A Constructive Odyssey
Authors: Lester Frank K. , Steffe Leslie P.
Published: February 2013

Through my work in mathematics education, I have come to the realization that constituting mathematics education as an academic field entails constructing models of mathematical minds that are constructed by students in the context of mathematics teaching beginning in early childhood and proceeding onward throughout the years of schooling. In this article, I recount events that have led me to this realization.
Ice Pigging Offers Sustainable Main Cleaning Technology
Authors: Moore Randy
Published: February 2013

Ice pigging demonstration projects illustrate the technology's ability to clean water distribution mains and sewer force mains effectively, with less water than with traditional flushing.
When Should I Take My Pumps Out of Service for Inspection?
Authors: Copeland Ari
Published: February 2013

From disinfection to water supply, pumps are major components of most treatment processes. Keeping pumps operating properly and efficiently should be the goal of all utilities. Proper maintenance helps keep costs down and ensures overall smooth operations.
Zieve’s syndrome presenting with coagulopathy, skin and subcutaneous haemorrhage
Authors: Kondrackienė Jūratė , Beinaravičienė Inga , Gelman Sigita , Kupčinskas Limas
Published: February 2013

Zieve syndrome is characterized by hepatic dysfunction, jaundice, hyperlipidaemia, and reversible hemolytic anaemia after alcohol abuse. We report a rare case of this syndrome presenting with coagulopathy and subcutaneous haemorrhage. Laboratory tests showed macrocytic anaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, increased activity of aminotransferases, hyperlipidemia, coagulopathy, signs of haemolysis: reduced concentration of haptoglobin, free hemoglobin. These abnormalities improved during 20 days. Ultrasonography revealed subcutaneous haemorrhagias, liver biopsy was consistent with steatohepatitis. There are a small number of reported cases of Zieve syndrome, and the reason could be the lack of pathognomonic symptoms, rapid decrease of hyperlipidaemic serum levels after alcohol withdrawal, patients denial of drinking. There is no specific treatment, therapy is similar to that for acute alcoholic hepatitis. The Zieve syndrome must be allways considered in the differential diagnosis of uncertain origin liver injury, hemolysis or coagulopathy.
Association between Notch signaling pathway and cancer
Authors: Lachej Nadežda , Didžiapetrienė Janina , Kazbarienė Birutė , Kanopienė Daiva , Jonušienė Violeta
Published: February 2013

Background. The components of the Notch signaling pathway are important in maintaining the balance involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Therefore, dysfunction of the Notch prevents differentiation, ultimately guiding undifferentiated cells toward malignant transformation. The aim of this article is to present recently published data concerning the role of the Notch signaling pathway components in development and prognosis of oncologic diseases, in occurrence of resistance to cytostatic agents and importance in creating of new cancer treatment approaches.
Materials and methods. The Pubmed was the main source of looking for information for this article.
Results. Recent investigations show that disorders of the Notch signaling pathway are associated with development of some human haematological and solid cancers. In different tissues and organs this active pathway can act as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene. Accordingly, the increased or decreased expression of its components is defined.
Most of published data show that the increased expression of Notch pathway components correlates with a worse prognosis of cancer and a shorter survival. Recently, the Notch pathway has been reported to be involved in drug resistance.
The modulation of the Notch signaling pathway could be helpful in treatment of some tumors with abnormal activity of this pathway’s components. Therefore changes in the expression of Notch components could become important predictive factors, helpful in selecting the proper treatment method.
Conclusions. The results of recent studies are very important, since the detecting of the prognostic and predictive value of components of the Notch signaling pathway can allow creating new and improving already known methods of cancer diagnostic and treatment.
Prostate cancer patient’s survival in Lithuania
Authors: Smailytė Giedrė , Adomaitis Robertas , Ulinskas Karolis , Aleknavičienė Birutė
Published: February 2013

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the survival of prostate cancer patients during the 12-year period and to analyze differences in survival by period of diagnosis, stage of disease, age and place of residence.
Materials and methods. All newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer (ICD-10, C61) in men were identified in the Lithuanian Cancer Registry for the period 1994–2005. Five-year relative survival estimates were computed with the Hakulinen method using the STATA software. Five-year relative survival estimates were calculated for three different periods of time when prostate cancer was diagnosed (1994–1997, 1998–2001 and 2002–2005), by age (15–59, 60–74, and 75–99), stage at diagnosis (I, II, III, IV, unknown) and place of residence (cities and towns or rural areas).
Results. The survival of prostate cancer patients in Lithuania has dramatically increased. Five-year relative survival in the period 1994–1997 was 46.92% and in the period 2002–2005 it reached 86.49%. Medium age prostate cancer patients (60–74 years) compared to younger and older patients had better survival rates. Increasing survival was observed for all stages of disease. Lower five-year relative survival rate of prostate cancer patients was reported for men from villages or other rural areas compared to patients from cities and towns in all periods under study.
Conclusions. The five-year survival rate of patients with prostate cancer has increased from 46.92% (95% CI 44.12–49.74) in 1994–1997 to 86.49% (95% CI 84.73–88.22) in 2002–2005 in Lithuania. The study identified survival differences by age and place of residence. Issues, such as access to care, quality of medical care, must be made equally available and accessible for the whole population with special attention to older men and men living in rural areas.
Entre solidarité communautaire et charité organisée, entre expression identitaire et « marketing » territorial : guiannée, guignolée en Amérique du Nord et hogmanay en Écosse
Authors: Postic Anne , Postic Fañch
Published: February 2013

Introduites en Amérique du Nord par les colons français, les quêtes de la « guignolée » et de la « guiannée » relèvent d’une pratique qui, au moment du changement d’année, était répandue dans l’ouest de l’Europe, de l’Écosse au nord jusqu’à l’Espagne au sud. À Sainte-Geneviève, dans le Missouri, et à La Prairie-du-Rocher, dans l’Illinois, elles demeurent l’expression d’une forte solidarité communautaire et d’un passé identitaire francophone. Si là, comme dans le pays de Retz, au sud de Nantes, les quêteurs s’attachent à maintenir une tradition établie voici plusieurs siècles, il en va autrement de la Grande guignolée des médias canadienne ou du Hogmanay festival d’Édimbourg dont les implications médiatiques, économiques, voire touristiques donnent lieu à des débats sur ce que certains considèrent comme des concessions à la mondialisation et à la marchandisation de la culture. La comparaison des situations franco-américaines et écossaises permet alors d’envisager l’éventail des possibles des évolutions contemporaines d’une même fête.
Un ethnologue chez les oncologues
Authors: Du Berger Jean
Published: February 2013

Ce qui devait se résumer à une collecte de récits de vie auprès des « invités » du Centre de jour de la Maison Michel-Sarrazin de Québec est devenu un voyage initiatique au coeur d’une culture, celle de la maladie. Traversée d’un espace d’où l’on ne revient que rarement. À cette première expression produite par un regard détaché, s’est ajoutée dans mon cas une expérience « du dedans » » qui m’a permis de comprendre ce qui était extérieur. Il en résulte un récit où se croisent de multiples paroles.
Mitotic spindle scaling during Xenopus development by kif2a and importin α
Authors: Wilbur Jeremy D , Heald Rebecca
Published: February 2013

Early development of many animals is characterized by rapid cleavages that dramatically decrease cell size, but how the mitotic spindle adapts to changing cell dimensions is not understood. To identify mechanisms that scale the spindle during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis, we established an in vitro system using cytoplasmic extracts prepared from embryos that recapitulates in vivo spindle size differences between stage 3 (4 cells, 37 µm) and stage 8 (∼4000 cells, 18 µm). We identified the kinesin-13 kif2a as a driver of developmental spindle scaling whose microtubule-destabilizing activity is inhibited in stage 3 spindles by the transport receptor importin α, and activated in stage 8 when importin α partitions to a membrane pool. Altering spindle size in developing embryos impaired spindle orientation during metaphase, but chromosome segregation remained robust. Thus, spindle size in Xenopus development is coupled to cell size through a ratiometric mechanism controlling microtubule destabilization.
Influenza-virus membrane fusion by cooperative fold-back of stochastically induced hemagglutinin intermediates
Authors: Ivanovic Tijana , Choi Jason L , Whelan Sean P , van Oijen Antoine M , Harrison Stephen C
Published: February 2013

Influenza virus penetrates cells by fusion of viral and endosomal membranes catalyzed by the viral hemagglutinin (HA). Structures of the initial and final states of the HA trimer define the fusion endpoints, but do not specify intermediates. We have characterized these transitions by analyzing low-pH-induced fusion kinetics of individual virions and validated the analysis by computer simulation. We detect initial engagement with the target membrane of fusion peptides from independently triggered HAs within the larger virus-target contact patch; fusion then requires engagement of three or four neighboring HA trimers. Effects of mutations in HA indicate that withdrawal of the fusion peptide from a pocket in the pre-fusion trimer is rate-limiting for both events, but the requirement for cooperative action of several HAs to bring the fusing membranes together leads to a long-lived intermediate state for single, extended HA trimers. This intermediate is thus a fundamental aspect of the fusion mechanism.
Ribosome structures to near-atomic resolution from thirty thousand cryo-EM particles
Authors: Bai Xiao-chen , Fernandez Israel S , McMullan Greg , Scheres Sjors HW
Published: February 2013

Although electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis has become an important tool for structural biology of large and flexible macro-molecular assemblies, the technique has not yet reached its full potential. Besides fundamental limits imposed by radiation damage, poor detectors and beam-induced sample movement have been shown to degrade attainable resolutions. A new generation of direct electron detectors may ameliorate both effects. Apart from exhibiting improved signal-to-noise performance, these cameras are also fast enough to follow particle movements during electron irradiation. Here, we assess the potentials of this technology for cryo-EM structure determination. Using a newly developed statistical movie processing approach to compensate for beam-induced movement, we show that ribosome reconstructions with unprecedented resolutions may be calculated from almost two orders of magnitude fewer particles than used previously. Therefore, this methodology may expand the scope of high-resolution cryo-EM to a broad range of biological specimens.
Developing cell biology
Authors: Needleman Daniel
Published: February 2013

Experiments in Xenopus embryo extracts reveal that changes in cellular biochemistry cause mitotic spindles to decrease in size over the course of early development.
Utilization of Lamp Shell (Lingula unguis) into Value Added Products
Authors: Cari-An Daisy G. , Malo Rosebella L.
Published: February 2013

An experimental study was conducted on the utilization of lamp shell locally known as ugpan to determine the value added products from it. The species of ugpan used was Lingula unguis and was collected in the coastal zone of Nabuswang, Canmoros, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Ugpan was tested as raw material into value added products. The meat was utilized into ugpan nuggets and the pedicle was used into crispy ugpan. The liking of ugpan nuggets and crispy ugpan were determined using sensory evaluation. The acceptability of the quality attributes of the value added product was determined using the 9-point hedonic scale. The liking of crispy ugpan showed 80 and 90 for the ugpan nuggets. The acceptability of crispy ugpan had a mean of 8.33 which meant like very much or very much acceptable, while the ugpan nuggets had a mean of 8.0 which meant like very much. The overall quality had a mean score of higher than 8 which means that the ugpan can be utilized into value added products. Improving the quality of ugpan nuggets can increase the hedonic score for the acceptance of the product. The result of this study will served as the extension project of the institution.   Keywords - Technology, crispy ugpan, Lingula unguis, quality, ugpan nuggets, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Improvements in The Journal of Chiropractic Education for 2013
Authors: Green Bart N.
Published: February 2013

This editorial introduces new developments with the Journal of Chiropractic Education that will help the journal fulfill its mission more effectively. Recent improvements include a website upgrade, early online posting of accepted and edited papers, “in press” citations in PubMed, a new electronic web-based manuscript submission and peer-review system, cross linking of references, a new appearance for the journal cover, and improved page format. Improvements in publication processes with the journal will better enable it to publish research pertaining to educational theory and methods relevant to chiropractic education.
Plasmonic‐Enhanced Organic Photovoltaics: Breaking the 10% Efficiency Barrier
Authors: Gan Qiaoqiang , Bartoli Filbert J. , Kafafi Zakya H.
Published: February 2013

Recent advances in molecular organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have shown 10% power conversion efficiency (PCE) for single‐junction cells, which put them in direct competition with PVs based on amorphous silicon. Incorporation of plasmonic nanostructures for light trapping in these thin‐film devices offers an attractive solution to realize higher‐efficiency OPVs with PCE≫10%. This article reviews recent progress on plasmonic‐enhanced OPV devices using metallic nanoparticles, and one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) patterned periodic nanostructures. We discuss the benefits of using various plasmonic nanostructures for broad‐band, polarization‐insensitive and angle‐independent absorption enhancement, and their integration with one or two electrode(s) of an OPV device.
In vitro generated Rhnull red cells recapitulate the in vivo deficiency: A model for rare blood group phenotypes and erythroid membrane disorders
Authors: Cambot Marie , Mazurier Christelle , Canoui‐Poitrine Florence , Hebert Nicolas , Picot Julien , Clay Denis , Picard Véronique , Ripoche Pierre , Douay Luc , Dubart‐Kupperschmitt Anne , Cartron Jean‐Pierre
Published: February 2013

Lentiviral modification combined with ex vivo erythroid differentiation was used to stably inhibit RhAG expression, a critical component of the Rh(rhesus) membrane complex defective in the Rhnull syndrome. The cultured red cells generated recapitulate the major alterations of native Rhnull cells regarding antigen expression, membrane deformability, and gas transport function, providing the proof of principle for their use as model of Rhnull syndrome and to investigate Rh complex biogenesis in human primary erythroid cells. Using this model, we were able to reveal for the first time that RhAG extinction alone is sufficient to explain ICAM‐4 and CD47 loss observed on native Rhnull RBCs. Together with the effects of RhAG forced expression in Rhnull progenitors, this strongly strengthens the hypothesis that RhAG is critical to Rh complex formation. The strategy is also promising for diagnosis purpose in order to overcome the supply from rare blood donors and is applicable to other erythroid defects and rare phenotypes, providing models to dissect membrane biogenesis of multicomplex proteins in erythroid cells, with potential clinical applications in transfusion medicine. Am. J. Hematol. 88:343–349, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Interdisciplinary Non‐invasive Approach to Landscape Archaeology of the Great War
Authors: Saey Timothy , Stichelbaut Birger , Bourgeois Jean , Eetvelde Veerle Van , Meirvenne Marc Van
Published: February 2013

The prospection and evaluation of former battlefields of the Great War or the First World War (WW I) poses specific challenges. For several reasons, large‐scale excavation campaigns of this conflict landscape are problematic. The vastness of the former Western Front (one of the largest archaeological sites in the world), the large amounts of buried unexploded ordnance and the possible presence of human remains hinder invasive practices. As an alternative, an integrated approach combining a geophysical survey, contemporary aerial photographs and a topographic model is proposed. This approach was evaluated for a 3.2 ha WW I battlefield using a multireceiver electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor. Integrating multiple apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa) EMI measurements allowed evaluation of the present WW I remains in the subsoil, while comparison with WW I aerial photographs and a digital terrain model led to a comprehensive understanding of the WW I landscape. It is suggested that this approach may be of value for the investigation of battlefields in other locations and periods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying the genomic determinants of aging and longevity in human population studies: Progress and challenges
Authors: Deelen Joris , Beekman Marian , Capri Miriam , Franceschi Claudio , Slagboom P. Eline
Published: February 2013

Human lifespan variation is mainly determined by environmental factors, whereas the genetic contribution is 25–30% and expected to be polygenic. Two complementary fields go hand in hand in order to unravel the mechanisms of biological aging: genomic and biomarker research. Explorative and candidate gene studies of the human genome by genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic approaches have resulted in the identification of a limited number of interesting positive linkage regions, genes, and pathways that contribute to lifespan variation. The possibilities to further exploit these findings are rapidly increasing through the use of novel technologies, such as next‐generation sequencing. Genomic research is progressively being integrated with biomarker studies on aging, including the application of (noninvasive) deep phenotyping and omics data – generated using novel technologies – in a wealth of studies in human populations. Hence, these studies may assist in obtaining a more holistic perspective on the role of the genome in aging and lifespan regulation.

Editor's suggested further reading in BioEssays: On the cause of aging and control of lifespan Abstract

The free‐radical theory of ageing – older, wiser and still alive Abstract

Longevity and the long arm of epigenetics: Acquired parental marks influence lifespan across several generations Abstract

The mystery of C. elegans aging: An emerging role for fat Abstract
Predictive Validity Performance Indicators in Violence Risk Assessment: A Methodological Primer
Authors: Singh Jay P.
Published: February 2013

The predictive validity of violence risk assessments can be divided into two components: calibration and discrimination. The most common performance indicator used to measure the predictive validity of structured risk assessments, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), measures the latter component but not the former. As it does not capture how well a risk assessment tool's predictions of risk agree with actual observed risk, the AUC provides an incomplete portrayal of predictive validity. This primer provides an overview of calibration and discrimination performance indicators that measure global performance, performance in identifying higher‐risk groups, and performance in identifying lower‐risk groups. It is recommended that future research into the predictive validity of violence risk assessment tools includes a number of performance indicators that measure different facets of predictive validity and that the limitations of reported indicators be routinely explicated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells in a disposable fixed bed culture system
Authors: Mizukami Amanda , Orellana Maristela D. , Caruso Sâmia R. , de Lima Prata Karen , Covas Dimas T. , Swiech Kamilla
Published: February 2013

The need for efficient and reliable technologies for clinical‐scale expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) has led to the use of disposable bioreactors and culture systems. Here, we evaluate the expansion of cord blood‐derived MSC in a disposable fixed bed culture system. Starting from an initial cell density of 6.0 × 107 cells, after 7 days of culture, it was possible to produce of 4.2(±0.8) × 108 cells, which represents a fold increase of 7.0 (±1.4). After enzymatic retrieval from Fibra‐Cell disks, the cells were able to maintain their potential for differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes and were positive for many markers common to MSC (CD73, CD90, and CD105). The results obtained in this study demonstrate that MSC can be efficiently expanded in the culture system. This novel approach presents several advantages over the current expansion systems, based on culture flasks or microcarrier‐based spinner flasks and represents a key element for MSC cellular therapy according to GMP compliant clinical‐scale production system. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29: 568–572, 2013