bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Indo-Asiatic Origin of Gas, The Ancient Egyptian Name for the Wild Sugar Cane (Saccharum Spontaneum L.)
Authors: de Vartavan Christian
Published: September 2016

Thisarticle establishes unprecedented connections between the Ancient Egyptian term GAS, usually translated as 'rush' and 'reed' with various cognates in different Indian languages qualifying the Kans grass (Saccharum spontaneum). Hence confirming the link made by Loret in 1904 between GAS and that very species, as well as presenting a clear case of a late plant transhumance eastwards to Egypt as the centre of origin of the Kans grass is clearly identified by botanists as being Indo-Asiatic. The article ends by questioning the reasons of the arrival of the Kans grass in Egypt nearly two millenia before its related species, the sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum).
Mycenaean and Cypriot Pottery from Gurob in the Manchester Museum Collection: A Test of Trade Network Theories for The New Kingdom Fayum
Authors: Gasperini Valentina
Published: September 2016

This paper presents an analysis of Late Bronze Age Mycenaean and Cypriot pottery unearthed in Gurob (Fayum, Egypt) during the archaeological campaigns held at the site between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and currently housed in the Manchester Museum. This study investigates the physical characteristics of the materials and the discovery contexts, then further discusses the association between traded pottery and indigenous Egyptian artefacts. This is the first of a series of papers that analyses imported New Kingdom pottery in the eastern Fayum with the further intention of exploring the area's apparent role as a hub for commerce during the Late Bronze Age. In particular, the function of the royal city of Gurob as guarantor and coordinator of the network within Egypt moving imported pottery between the beginning of the 18th Dynasty and the Ramesside Period (ca. 1548 – 1086 BC).
The War of Sennacherib Against Egypt as Described in Herodotus II 141
Authors: Kahn Dan'el
Published: September 2016

In 701 BCE Sennacherib, King of Assyria (704–681 BCE), conducted a campaign against the Levant to subdue the kingdoms that had rebelled against Assyria upon the death of his father, Sargon II (721–705 BCE) in battle. Sennacherib's written and pictorial sources describe the subjugation of the Levantine kingdoms voluntarily or after a siege, while a pitched battle against the Egyptian and Kushite forces is presented as a great victory. The Biblical account in 2 Kings 18: 13-16 matches the description, while the Prophetic sources describe the defeat of the Assyrian host by the Angel of the Lord. Herodotus II 141 preserves a different version of the Assyrian defeat, where the Egyptian ruler petitioned his God, Hephaistos (i.e., Ptah), and was unexpectedly delivered by mice, who gnawed the weapons of the Assyrians and caused their hasty retreat. In this article, I intend to reassess the story, clarify some passages, and illuminate it from different directions. Finally, I will evaluate the question of relationship of Herodotus II 141 to the Bibiical narrative, the Greek influences, and the date of the described event.
Scarab-Stamped Impressions and Weaving at Middle Bronze Age Tell Dothan
Authors: Miglio Adam E.
Published: September 2016

The excavations at Tell Dothan in Palestine, which took place during the middle of the past century, uncovered important remains from the Middle Bronze Age. This article presents previously unpublished artifacts from the courtyard of the "patrician's house" at Tell Dothan. The most significant artifacts from this assemblage are a scarab-stamped jar handle and two scarab-stamped loom weights. In addition to making these objects available for the first time, this article also considers how scarab-stamped loom weights may have functioned at the site.
Wandering Rosettes: Qatna's Key to a Misunderstood Motif
Authors: David Arlette
Published: September 2016

A golden inlaid rosette found in the royal tomb of Qatna and dated to the fifteenth to fourteenth century BCE sheds light on the evolution of the Egyptian rosette during the 18th Dynasty and on patterns of artistic exchanges between Near Eastern and Egyptian artists. Since cloisonné technique is uncommon in second millennium BCE pieces of jewelry from Western Asia, the question of the manufacture of the Qatna rosette is reevaluated and a more distant origin proposed on the basis of written documents found in Qatna.
Some Remarks on the Tjemhu Libyans
Authors: Iacoviello Annalinda
Published: September 2016

The Tjemhu-Libyans are mentioned in Egyptian sources starting with the 6th Dynasty, when they are presented in geographical proximity to the Nubians and meet the Egyptians during exploratory/trading expeditions. Later, the term "Tjemh" was used to generically indicate the Libyan-land and to indicate “the west.” Representations of Tjemhu dancers appear in Egyptian temples show the persistence of contacts between the Egyptians and the Tjemhu-Libyans, despite the lack of other clear indications in Egyptian sources. This paper aims to analyze certain Egyptian sources related to the Tjemhu in order to suggest their possible homeland and to clarify their strong connection with Nubian groups.
Herodotus Aigyptiophrōn: Conversing With the Learned Egyptians
Authors: Anderson A. Sebastian
Published: September 2016

It is acknowledged that Herodotus foregrounds methodological concerns in book two of his Histories, but I challenge the notion that his frequent claims to have heard a thing from Egyptian priests are mere source citations. I argue that Herodotus emphasizes how he listened to the Egyptians in order to differentiate his method of inquiry from the competitive verbal displays of his contemporaries and predecessor Hecataeus. Herodotus replaces the feigned authority of the latter with a demonstration that listening to other intellectuals is crucial to learning. I suggest further that the portrayal of the Egyptian priests is no misrepresentation by Herodotus but is indicative of their acquaintance. Egyptian literature attests the remarkable emphasis placed on listening as a requirement in the pursuit of wisdom. The Book of Thoth may reveal how the education of literate priests involved oral inquiry and listening. Egyptian priests were thus suitable intellectual peers for an inquiring Herodotus.
Why is No One Eating? The Iconography of Feasting in the Ancient World
Authors: Morgan Lyvia
Published: September 2016

Feasts were a vital part of life in the Ancient World. Those worthy of expression in images and texts were ideological and symbolic, celebrating royal power, marking the ritual calendar, creating alliances, and maintaining the status quo of society. Strikingly, in all representations relating to feasting, no one is actually depicted eating. The paper investigates this phenomenon both within the framework of the social impetus for feasting, and in terms of how iconography works. Using select examples from the art of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Aegean of the 3rd and 2nd millennium, the paper demonstrates how preparations and ceremonial actions convey the culminating social action of the feast. Processions, gift bringing, and holding the cup, in particular, allude to the wider significance of feasting by focusing on moments of ceremonial resonance. It is these—rather than consumption—that encapsulate the symbolic importance of feasting for elite social relations.
Turned Weapons in Egyptian Iconography – The Decorum of Dominance
Authors: Wilkinson Richard H.
Published: September 2016

While numerous studies have been published on Egyptian weaponry over the years, relatively few have looked at symbolic aspects of the use and display of weapons in Egyptian art and in actual combat.  In the 1990’s the present author produced a series of studies on the symbolic use of the “turned bow” showing its actual and representational use as a symbol of dominance and submission. The present article greatly expands that research by examining the use of other weapons in similar circumstances. The results confirm the conclusions of the earlier studies of the bow and show that all weapons having a “front” and “back” were used in the same manner for the display of dominance.  Although the present article considers only the evidence from Egypt, the earlier research showed that the use of the bow in dominance display was part of a lingua franca of gesture symbolism used throughout many areas of the ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world, from Achaemenid Persia to Greece.
A Different Kind of Digging: Social Anthropology as Archaeological Fieldwork Practice
Authors: van der Spek Kees
Published: September 2016

Using the Noble Tombs of the Theban necropolis as its starting point, but with obvious implications for other archaeological sites where there is a close relationship with resident local communities, this paper calls for archaeological research in Egypt to concern itself with the entire stratigraphy of a site, including the most recent sequence with its contemporary deposits. The paper argues for the inclusion of social and cultural anthropological observation in the research methodologies of archaeologists excavating in locations where nearby contemporary communities represent continuities in the stratigraphic sequence of the excavation concession.
Orvieto and the Waterways Network
Authors: Bizzarri Claudio
Published: September 2016

In antiquity “road networks” of various kinds played an essential role in defining the territory and determining where settlements and production villas and farms were to be located. This study deals in particular with the waterways in Umbria, involving rivers such as the Tiber, the Paglia and the Chiani, which were all navigable at the time, and how present place names provide an insight into how these waterways were exploited. Corroborated by archaeological finds, descriptions from ancient authors also provide a lively picture of what these villas were like.
The New-Old Interest in Roman Foodways
Authors: Blake Emma
Published: September 2016

What and how the Romans ate has long been of popular and academic interest, benefiting from a rich body of evidence from textual, iconographic, artefactual and environmental sources. Scholarly publications on Roman dietary practices have increased over the past hundred years, particularly in the last two decades. To what extent does the contemporary discourse on food influence this scholarship? This paper attempts to explain the growth in interest in this topic by examining the trends in scholarship on Roman food production and consumption over the past century.
The Eugene Berman Collection: A Roman Memoir
Authors: De Puma Richard Daniel
Published: September 2016

This memoir recounts the author’s first meetings with David Soren in Tunis and Rome during the summer of 1970. It also records an influential visit to the Roman apartment of a major artist and collector of Etruscan antiquities, Eugene Berman (1899–1972), that same summer and gives a brief description of the collection, now the property of the Italian State. Finally it shows how that visit helped to set the author on a path that would lead to his career as an Etruscologist.
John Galt and the Subaltern's Wife: Writing the History of the War of 1812
Authors: Roberts Julia
Published: September 2016

In the Special Materials Reading Room in the National Library of Scotland is a document entitled “A Lady's Campaigns in Canada: Extracts from the Journal of a Subaltern's Wife, Written in Canada in 1812, 1813, and 1814.” It is part of the William “Tiger” Dunlop portion of the Dunlop Collection and is Manuscript 9303, folios 62–74. The extracts tell the story of a small, young, English military family's encounter with war on the Canadian frontier. In so doing, it reveals the gendered emotional landscapes of the war, the lived content of genteel female respectability and martial masculinity. It includes both genders centrally in the history of war. “A Lady's Campaigns in Canada” deploy, apparently unconsciously, the racialized tropes powerfully operating within the colony and the empire (because they are “uncivilized” in the document, “Indians” commit “murder” even in warfare). In this regard, the extracts make early nineteenth-century racism visible to today's readers. The document is of extraordinary note, too, in the way it conceives of history. It is a history of the War of 1812 in the Canadas that resists teleological repurposing by nationalistic myth makers. The story it tells is a fractured one that speaks through fragmentary and shifting points of view: of the subaltern's wife, of valourous officers, of husbands, and of silenced First Nations warriors only seen through a white lens. To a startling extent, “A Lady's Campaigns in Canada” leap-frogs over two centuries of manufactured myth and memory to remind historians that the calls to acknowledge diversity, tension, and racism, for example, echo the knowledge of near contemporaries about this war.
A Different Kind of Listening: Recent Work on Indigenous Life History in British Columbia
Authors: Trimble Sabina
Published: September 2016

This essay reviews three recent works on Indigenous women's life histories. It examines their importance to studying Canadian Indigenous and colonial history through the lens of local, lived experiences within broader processes of colonial change. In their presentation, methodologies, and, in particular, the collaboration at the heart of these life histories, the books set new standards for community-based, oral history research. Not only do the women's life stories provide local, alternative perspectives on histories of colonial change in Indigenous communities, but they are also striking examples of scholarship founded on shared authority, negotiation, and dialogue with Indigenous collaborators.
Results of Physiotherapy Treatments in Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Torres-Sánchez Irene , Cruz-Ramírez Roberto , Cabrera-Martos Irene , Díaz-Pelegrina Ana , Valenza Marie Carmen
Published: September 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to review clinical trials of the effectiveness of physiotherapy compared with standard care, focused mainly on the functional status of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods: Search strategies were developed for each of the databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). The study eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) The objective was to assess the effect and efficacy of physiotherapy compared with standard care (which included only medical and pharmacological treatment); (2) adults subjects had AECOPD; (3) one of the outcome measures was functional status, defined as an individual's ability to perform the normal daily activities required to meet basic needs, fulfill usual roles, and maintain health and well-being; (4) it was a clinical trial; (5) it was written in English; (6) it was published between January 2009 and February 2016; and (7) the full-text article was available. Results: The review revealed that for patients hospitalized for AECOPD, exercise, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, breathing exercises, and chest therapy significantly improved their functional status compared with standard care. Conclusions: A variety of physiotherapy modalities have been shown to improve functional status compared with standard care among patients hospitalized for AECOPD; other outcome measures also showed improvements.
Beyond the Alternatives that Switch the Mechanism of the 1,3-Dipolar CyCloadditions from Concerted to Stepwise or Vice Versa: A Literature Review
Authors: Siadati Seyyed Amir
Published: September 2016

For several decades, the concerted or stepwise character of the mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction has been one of the most debated issues in the field of organic chemistry. The significance of this problem is due to the fact that in a catalyst-free 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, when the mechanism switches from concerted to stepwise, the stereospecificity is lost and thus unwanted stereoisomers may emerge. The first proposals about the mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar reaction were due to Huisgen (concerted model) and subsequently by Firestone (two-step diradical channel) in the 1960s. After a decade of debate, most researchers accepted the concerted model for the reaction, but during these years, researchers reported some examples of the stepwise mechanism for catalyst-free 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. This review attempts to find a number of factors that could influence the reaction channels and switch the mechanism from concerted to stepwise, or vice versa.
Pregnancy in a Renal Transplant Patient-when unsafe
Authors: Khanam Khaleda , Ara Anjuman , Begum Mosha Hafsa , Rayen Junnu , Khanum Shakila , Rashid Harunur
Published: September 2016

Abstract not availableNorthern International Medical College Journal Vol.7(2) Jan 2016: 153-155
Liver Involvement in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis A case report
Authors: Musabbir Nadira , Karim ASM Bazlul , Sultana Kaniz , Anwar Syeda Afria
Published: September 2016

Langerhanscell histiocytosis (LCH) (Histiocytosis X) is a rare disease of unknown cause characterized by oligoclonal proliferation of Langerhans cells. It occurs mostly in children and young adults and involves one or more body systems such as bone, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, lymph nodes, liver or various soft tissues. The diagnosis is always made by a histological approach. A 3.5-year old male child with LCH involving multiple systems, including the skin, lungs, liver with clinical signs of diabetes insipidus. The patient was diagnosed following a skin biopsy that revealed infiltration of Langerhans cells. This case report would increase the awareness of pediatricians about the multisystem involvement in LCH.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.7(2) Jan 2016: 158-160
Reaching for Archive Fever: A Tall Tale about Queer ‘Made in France’
Authors: Cox Lara
Published: September 2016

This article reflects on the history of queer theory's entry in France by turning to two critics, Marie-Hélène Bourcier and François Cusset, who claim to have introduced the term ‘queer’ into French culture. It analogizes these critics' claims as a battle of the ‘archons’ as conceptualized by Derrida in Archive Fever. Archons police official memory and search for the ‘authentic’ origins of the event, practice or discipline that is archived. The Derridean formulation allows me to consider the narrative that Bourcier and Cusset assert, particularly that concerning the status of French theory as the progenitor of queer theory, in terms of the authority of the archon. The Derridean analogy also enables me to consider what gets written out of each account in the archontic endeavour. The article finally turns to the subject of the possibility of a more disruptively queer archive by arguing for a re-evaluation of Bourcier's earlier collaborative work. I argue that what Derrida pinpointed as an anarchivizing ‘fever’ that threatens stable, exclusionary memory may be detected in this early work.
A Case Study of a Heavy Rain over the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Long Qichao , Chen Quanliang , Gui Ke , Zhang Ying
Published: September 2016

This research systematically studied heavy rain that occurred on 5 August 2014 over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (31°N–35°N, 96°E–103°E) using orbital data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR), the TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) products, and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Re-Analysis Interim reanalysis data (ERA-Interim). The data studied included spatial and temporal distributions of the precipitation; horizontal distributions and vertical structures of the precipitation system; convective storm top altitudes and types of rain; mean rainfall profiles; the influence of water vapor content before and after the rainfall; and the atmospheric circulation background. The results suggest that most precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau occurs in the southeast, and that the maximum near-surface precipitation rate for this event was more than 100 mm·h−1. The convection was so powerful that the convective storm top altitude surpassed 16 km. Furthermore, the water vapor content caused obvious changes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) area. The mean rainfall profile can be roughly divided into four layers and showed that the maximum rainfall rate appeared at about 5.5 km. Deep weak precipitation provided the largest contribution to the total precipitation, while the highest average precipitation rate was from deep strong convective precipitation. The atmospheric circulation situation is conducive to the formation of strong convective weather, and the terrain is also an external factor affecting precipitation for this event.
Development of Novel ECTFE Coated PP Composite Hollow-Fiber Membranes
Authors: Santoro Sergio , Drioli Enrico , Figoli Alberto
Published: September 2016

In this work composite hollow-fibers were prepared by dip-coating of commercial polypropylene (PP) with a thin layer of ethylene–chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE). The employment of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent improved the polymer processability favoring dip-coating at lower temperature (135 °C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that after dip-coating the PP support maintained its microstructure, whereas a thin coated layer of ECTFE on the external surface of the PP hollow-fiber was clearly distinguishable. Membrane characterization evidenced the effects of the concentration of ECTFE in the dope-solution and the time of dip-coating on the thickness of ECTFE layer and membrane properties (i.e., contact angle and pore size). ECTFE coating decreased the surface roughness reducing, as a consequence, the hydrophobicity of the membrane. Moreover, increasing the ECTFE concentration and dip-coating time enabled the preparation of a thicker layer of ECTFE with low and narrow pore size that negatively affected the water transport. On the basis of the superior chemical resistance of ECTFE, ECTFE/PP composite hollow fibers could be considered as very promising candidates to be employed in membrane processes involving harsh conditions.
Boron-Based (Nano-)Materials: Fundamentals and Applications
Authors: Demirci Umit , Miele Philippe , Yot Pascal
Published: September 2016

The boron (Z = 5) element is unique. Boron-based (nano-)materials are equally unique. Accordingly, the present special issue is dedicated to crystalline boron-based (nano-)materials and gathers a series of nine review and research articles dealing with different boron-based compounds. Boranes, borohydrides, polyhedral boranes and carboranes, boronate anions/ligands, boron nitride (hexagonal structure), and elemental boron are considered. Importantly, large sections are dedicated to fundamentals, with a special focus on crystal structures. The application potentials are widely discussed on the basis of the materials’ physical and chemical properties. It stands out that crystalline boron-based (nano-)materials have many technological opportunities in fields such as energy storage, gas sorption (depollution), medicine, and optical and electronic devices. The present special issue is further evidence of the wealth of boron science, especially in terms of crystalline (nano-)materials.
Two-Level Electron Excitations and Distinctive Physical Properties of Al-Cu-Fe Quasicrystals
Authors: Prekul Alexandre , Shchegolikhina Natalya
Published: September 2016

This article is not a review in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a monographic study of the implications of detection in Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals of the electronic heat capacity contributions associated with the two-level electron excitations. Our aim was to reveal correlations between these contributions, on the one hand, and specific features of electron transport, magnetic susceptibility, Hall-effect, tunnelling and optical spectra, on the other hand. It is shown that the full range of these features can be understood in the framework of the unified conceptual scheme based on two-level electron excitations.
The Constant Information Radar
Authors: Paul Bryan , Bliss Daniel
Published: September 2016

The constant information radar, or CIR, is a tracking radar that modulates target revisit time by maintaining a fixed mutual information measure. For highly dynamic targets that deviate significantly from the path predicted by the tracking motion model, the CIR adjusts by illuminating the target more frequently than it would for well-modeled targets. If SNR is low, the radar delays revisit to the target until the state entropy overcomes noise uncertainty. As a result, we show that the information measure is highly dependent on target entropy and target measurement covariance. A constant information measure maintains a fixed spectral efficiency to support the RF convergence of radar and communications. The result is a radar implementing a novel target scheduling algorithm based on information instead of heuristic or ad hoc methods. The CIR mathematically ensures that spectral use is justified.
Single Tree Stem Profile Detection Using Terrestrial Laser Scanner Data, Flatness Saliency Features and Curvature Properties
Authors: Olofsson Kenneth , Holmgren Johan
Published: September 2016

A method for automatic stem detection and stem profile estimation based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was validated. The root-mean-square error was approximately 1 cm for stem diameter estimations. The method contains a new way of extracting the flatness saliency feature using the centroid of a subset of a point cloud within a voxel cell that approximates the point by point calculations. The loss of accuracy is outweighed by a much higher computational speed, making it possible to cover large datasets. The algorithm introduces a new way to connect surface patches belonging to a stem and investigates if they belong to curved surfaces. Thereby, cylindrical objects, like stems, are found in the pre-filtering stage. The algorithm uses a new cylinder fitting method that estimates the axis direction by transforming the TLS points into a radial-angular coordinate system and evaluates the deviations by a moving window convex hull algorithm. Once the axis direction is found, the cylinder center is chosen as the position with the smallest radial deviations. The cylinder fitting method works on a point cloud in both the single-scan setup, as well as a multiple scan setup of a TLS system.
Incentives and Constraints of Community and Smallholder Forestry
Authors: De Jong Wil , Galloway Glenn , Katila Pia , Pacheco Pablo
Published: September 2016

This editorial introduces the special issue: Incentives and constraints of community and smallholder forestry. The special issue contains nine papers, listed in a table in the main text. The editorial reviews briefly some key elements of our current understanding of community and smallholder forestry. The editorial also briefly introduces the nine papers of the special issue and points out how they link to the debate among academics and specialists on community and smallholder forestry. Finally, the editorial highlights the new elements that the nine papers contribute to our understanding of community and smallholder forestry, before it concludes at the end.
Plant-to-Plant Variability in Root Metabolite Profiles of 19 Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions Is Substance-Class-Dependent
Authors: Mönchgesang Susann , Strehmel Nadine , Trutschel Diana , Westphal Lore , Neumann Steffen , Scheel Dierk
Published: September 2016

Natural variation of secondary metabolism between different accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) has been studied extensively. In this study, we extended the natural variation approach by including biological variability (plant-to-plant variability) and analysed root metabolic patterns as well as their variability between plants and naturally occurring accessions. To screen 19 accessions of A. thaliana, comprehensive non-targeted metabolite profiling of single plant root extracts was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS) and gas chromatography/electron ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/EI-QMS). Linear mixed models were applied to dissect the total observed variance. All metabolic profiles pointed towards a larger plant-to-plant variability than natural variation between accessions and variance of experimental batches. Ratios of plant-to-plant to total variability were high and distinct for certain secondary metabolites. None of the investigated accessions displayed a specifically high or low biological variability for these substance classes. This study provides recommendations for future natural variation analyses of glucosinolates, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids and also reference data for additional substance classes.
Biology, Pest Status, Microbiome and Control of Kudzu Bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae): A New Invasive Pest in the U.S.
Authors: Dhammi Anirudh , Van Krestchmar Jaap , Ponnusamy Loganathan , Bacheler Jack , Reisig Dominic , Herbert Ames , Del Pozo-Valdivia Alejandro , Roe R.
Published: September 2016

Soybean is an important food crop, and insect integrated pest management (IPM) is critical to the sustainability of this production system. In recent years, the introduction into the United States of the kudzu bug currently identified as Megacopta cribraria (F.), poses a threat to soybean production. The kudzu bug was first discovered in the state of Georgia, U.S. in 2009 and since then has spread to most of the southeastern states. Because it was not found in the North American subcontinent before this time, much of our knowledge of this insect comes from research done in its native habitat. However, since the U.S. introduction, studies have been undertaken to improve our understanding of the kudzu bug basic biology, microbiome, migration patterns, host selection and management in its expanding new range. Researchers are not only looking at developing IPM strategies for the kudzu bug in soybean, but also at its unique relationship with symbiotic bacteria. Adult females deposit bacterial packets with their eggs, and the neonates feed on these packets to acquire the bacteria, Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata. The kudzu bug should be an informative model to study the co-evolution of insect function and behavior with that of a single bacteria species. We review kudzu bug trapping and survey methods, the development of bioassays for insecticide susceptibility, insecticide efficacy, host preferences, impact of the pest on urban environments, population expansion, and the occurrence of natural enemies. The identity of the kudzu bug in the U.S. is not clear. We propose that the kudzu bug currently accepted as M. cribraria in the U.S. is actually Megacopta punctatissima, with more work needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Spider Silk-CBD-Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites: Mechanism of Assembly
Authors: Meirovitch Sigal , Shtein Zvi , Ben-Shalom Tal , Lapidot Shaul , Tamburu Carmen , Hu Xiao , Kluge Jonathan , Raviv Uri , Kaplan David , Shoseyov Oded
Published: September 2016

The fabrication of cellulose-spider silk bio-nanocomposites comprised of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and recombinant spider silk protein fused to a cellulose binding domain (CBD) is described. Silk-CBD successfully binds cellulose, and unlike recombinant silk alone, silk-CBD self-assembles into microfibrils even in the absence of CNCs. Silk-CBD-CNC composite sponges and films show changes in internal structure and CNC alignment related to the addition of silk-CBD. The silk-CBD sponges exhibit improved thermal and structural characteristics in comparison to control recombinant spider silk sponges. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the silk-CBD sponge was higher than the control silk sponge and similar to native dragline spider silk fibers. Gel filtration analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that silk-CBD, but not the recombinant silk control, formed a nematic liquid crystalline phase similar to that observed in native spider silk during the silk spinning process. Silk-CBD microfibrils spontaneously formed in solution upon ultrasonication. We suggest a model for silk-CBD assembly that implicates CBD in the central role of driving the dimerization of spider silk monomers, a process essential to the molecular assembly of spider-silk nanofibers and silk-CNC composites.
Gene Disruption Technologies Have the Potential to Transform Stored Product Insect Pest Control
Authors: Perkin Lindsey , Adrianos Sherry , Oppert Brenda
Published: September 2016

Stored product insects feed on grains and processed commodities manufactured from grain post-harvest, reducing the nutritional value and contaminating food. Currently, the main defense against stored product insect pests is the pesticide fumigant phosphine. Phosphine is highly toxic to all animals, but is the most effective and economical control method, and thus is used extensively worldwide. However, many insect populations have become resistant to phosphine, in some cases to very high levels. New, environmentally benign and more effective control strategies are needed for stored product pests. RNA interference (RNAi) may overcome pesticide resistance by targeting the expression of genes that contribute to resistance in insects. Most data on RNAi in stored product insects is from the coleopteran genetic model, Tribolium castaneum, since it has a strong RNAi response via injection of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) in any life stage. Additionally, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has been suggested as a potential resource for new pest control strategies. In this review we discuss background information on both gene disruption technologies and summarize the advances made in terms of molecular pest management in stored product insects, mainly T. castaneum, as well as complications and future needs.
Influence of Wind Strength and Duration on Relative Hypoxia Reductions by Opposite Wind Directions in an Estuary with an Asymmetric Channel
Authors: Wang Ping , Wang Harry , Linker Lewis , Hinson Kyle
Published: September 2016

Computer model experiments are applied to analyze hypoxia reductions for opposing wind directions under various speeds and durations in the north–south oriented, two-layer-circulated Chesapeake estuary. Wind’s role in destratification is the main mechanism in short-term reduction of hypoxia. Hypoxia can also be reduced by wind-enhanced estuarine circulation associated with winds that have down-estuary straining components that promote bottom-returned oxygen-rich seawater intrusion. The up-bay-ward along-channel component of straining by the southerly or easterly wind induces greater destratification than the down-bay-ward straining by the opposite wind direction, i.e., northerly or westerly winds. While under the modulation of the west-skewed asymmetric cross-channel bathymetry in the Bay’s hypoxic zone, the westward cross-channel straining by easterly or northerly winds causes greater destratification than its opposite wind direction. The wind-induced cross-channel circulation can be completed much more rapidly than the wind-induced along-channel circulation, and the former is usually more effective than the latter in destratification and hypoxia reduction in an early wind period. The relative importance of cross-channel versus along-channel circulation for a particular wind direction can change with wind speed and duration. The existence of month-long prevailing unidirectional winds in the Chesapeake is explored, and the relative hypoxia reductions among different prevailing directions are analyzed. Scenarios of wind with intermittent calm or reversing directions on an hourly scale are also simulated and compared.
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Different Antibiotics Enhanced with Silver-Doped Hydroxyapatite Thin Films
Authors: Predoi Daniela , Popa Cristina , Chapon Patrick , Groza Andreea , Iconaru Simona
Published: September 2016

The inhibitory and antimicrobial effects of silver particles have been known since ancient times. In the last few years, a major health problem has arisen due to pathogenic bacteria resistance to antimicrobial agents. The antibacterial activities of new materials including hydroxyapatite (HAp), silver-doped hydroxyapatite (Ag:HAp) and various types of antibiotics such as tetracycline (T-HAp and T-Ag:HAp) or ciprofloxacin (C-HAp and C-Ag:HAp) have not been studied so far. In this study we reported, for the first time, the preparation and characterization of various thin films based on hydroxyapatite and silver-doped hydroxyapatite combined with tetracycline or ciprofloxacin. The structural and chemical characterization of hydroxyapatite and silver-doped hydroxyapatite thin films has been evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological studies of the HAp, Ag:HAp, T-HAp, T-Ag:HAp, C-HAp and C-Ag:HAp thin solid films were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to study the chemical composition of the coatings, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) measurements have been used, obtaining information on the distribution of the elements throughout the film. These studies have confirmed the purity of the prepared hydroxyapatite and silver-doped hydroxyapatite thin films obtained from composite targets containing Ca10−xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2 with xAg = 0 (HAp) and xAg = 0.2 (Ag:HAp). On the other hand, the major aim of this study was the evaluation of the antibacterial activities of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline in the presence of HAp and Ag:HAp thin layers against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. The antibacterial activities of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli test strains increased in the presence of HAp and Ag:HAp thin layers.
Integration of Methane Steam Reforming and Water Gas Shift Reaction in a Pd/Au/Pd-Based Catalytic Membrane Reactor for Process Intensification
Authors: Castro-Dominguez Bernardo , Mardilovich Ivan , Ma Liang-Chih , Ma Rui , Dixon Anthony , Kazantzis Nikolaos , Ma Yi
Published: September 2016

Palladium-based catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs) effectively remove H2 to induce higher conversions in methane steam reforming (MSR) and water-gas-shift reactions (WGS). Within such a context, this work evaluates the technical performance of a novel CMR, which utilizes two catalysts in series, rather than one. In the process system under consideration, the first catalyst, confined within the shell side of the reactor, reforms methane with water yielding H2, CO and CO2. After reforming is completed, a second catalyst, positioned in series, reacts with CO and water through the WGS reaction yielding pure H2O, CO2 and H2. A tubular composite asymmetric Pd/Au/Pd membrane is situated throughout the reactor to continuously remove the produced H2 and induce higher methane and CO conversions while yielding ultrapure H2 and compressed CO2 ready for dehydration. Experimental results involving (i) a conventional packed bed reactor packed (PBR) for MSR, (ii) a PBR with five layers of two catalysts in series and (iii) a CMR with two layers of two catalysts in series are comparatively assessed and thoroughly characterized. Furthermore, a comprehensive 2D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to explore further the features of the proposed configuration. The reaction was studied at different process intensification-relevant conditions, such as space velocities, temperatures, pressures and initial feed gas composition. Finally, it is demonstrated that the above CMR module, which was operated for 600 h, displays quite high H2 permeance and purity, high CH4 conversion levels and reduced CO yields.
Untargeted NMR Spectroscopic Analysis of the Metabolic Variety of New Apple Cultivars
Authors: Eisenmann Philipp , Ehlers Mona , Weinert Christoph , Tzvetkova Pavleta , Silber Mara , Rist Manuela , Luy Burkhard , Muhle-Goll Claudia
Published: September 2016

Metabolome analyses by NMR spectroscopy can be used in quality control by generating unique fingerprints of different species. Hundreds of components and their variation between different samples can be analyzed in a few minutes/hours with high accuracy and low cost of sample preparation. Here, apple peel and pulp extracts of a variety of apple cultivars were studied to assess their suitability to discriminate between the different varieties. The cultivars comprised mainly newly bred varieties or ones that were brought onto the market in recent years. Multivariate analyses of peel and pulp extracts were able to unambiguously identify all cultivars, with peel extracts showing a higher discriminative power. The latter was increased if the highly concentrated sugar metabolites were omitted from the analysis. Whereas sugar concentrations lay within a narrow range, polyphenols, discussed as potential health promoting substances, and acids varied remarkably between the cultivars.
Curcumin and Resveratrol in the Management of Cognitive Disorders: What is the Clinical Evidence?
Authors: Mazzanti Gabriela , Di Giacomo Silvia
Published: September 2016

A growing body of in vitro and in vivo evidences shows a possible role of polyphenols in counteracting neurodegeneration: curcumin and resveratrol are attractive substances in this regard. In fact, epidemiological studies highlight a neuroprotective effect of turmeric (rhizome of Curcuma longa L.), the main source of curcumin. Moreover, the consumption of red wine, the main source of resveratrol, has been related to a lower risk of developing dementia. In this review, we analyzed the published clinical trials investigating curcumin and resveratrol in the prevention or treatment of cognitive disorders. The ongoing studies were also described, in order to give an overview of the current search on this topic. The results of published trials (five for curcumin, six for resveratrol) are disappointing and do not allow to draw conclusions about the therapeutic or neuroprotective potential of curcumin and resveratrol. These compounds, being capable of interfering with several processes implicated in the early stages of dementia, could be useful in preventing or in slowing down the pathology. To this aim, an early diagnosis using peripheral biomarkers becomes necessary. Furthermore, the potential preventive activity of curcumin and resveratrol should be evaluated in long-term exposure clinical trials, using preparations with high bioavailability and that are well standardized.
Two New Clerodane Diterpenes from Tinospora sagittata
Authors: Li Guanhua , Ding Wenbing , Wan Fanghao , Li Youzhi
Published: September 2016

Two new clerodane-type diterpenes, tinosporins C (1) and tinosporins D (2) were isolated from the stems of Tinospora sagittata (Oliv.), together with three known ones, columbin (3), tinophylloloside (4), and tinospinoside D (5). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation, with that of the absolute configuration of compound 1 was assigned by experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The cytotoxicity and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro.
Nutrient Intake Is Associated with Longevity Characterization by Metabolites and Element Profiles of Healthy Centenarians
Authors: Cai Da , Zhao Shancang , Li Danlei , Chang Fang , Tian Xiangxu , Huang Guohong , Zhu Zhenjun , Liu Dong , Dou Xiaowei , Li Shubo , Zhao Mouming , Li Quanyang
Published: September 2016

The relationships between diet and metabolites as well as element profiles in healthy centenarians are important but remain inconclusive. Therefore, to test the interesting hypothesis that there would be distinctive features of metabolites and element profiles in healthy centenarians, and that these would be associated with nutrient intake; the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), total bile acids and ammonia in feces, phenol, p-cresol, uric acid, urea, creatinine and ammonia in urine, and element profiles in fingernails were determined in 90 healthy elderly people, including centenarians from Bama county (China)—a famous longevous region—and elderly people aged 80–99 from the longevous region and a non-longevous region. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis was used for pattern recognition. As a result, the centenarians showed a distinct metabolic pattern. Seven characteristic components closely related to the centenarians were identified, including acetic acid, total SCFA, Mn, Co, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid. Their concentrations were significantly higher in the centenarians group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the dietary fiber intake was positively associated with butyric acid contents in feces (r = 0.896, p < 0.01), and negatively associated with phenol in urine (r = −0.326, p < 0.01). The results suggest that the specific metabolic pattern of centenarians may have an important and positive influence on the formation of the longevity phenomenon. Elevated dietary fiber intake should be a path toward health and longevity.
A Systematic Review of Athletes’ and Coaches’ Nutrition Knowledge and Reflections on the Quality of Current Nutrition Knowledge Measures
Authors: Trakman Gina , Forsyth Adrienne , Devlin Brooke , Belski Regina
Published: September 2016

Context: Nutrition knowledge can influence dietary choices and impact on athletic performance. Valid and reliable measures are needed to assess the nutrition knowledge of athletes and coaches. Objectives: (1) To systematically review the published literature on nutrition knowledge of adult athletes and coaches and (2) to assess the quality of measures used to assess nutrition knowledge. Data Sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscuss, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. Study Selection: 36 studies that provided a quantitative measure of nutrition knowledge and described the measurement tool that was used were included. Data extraction: Participant description, questionnaire description, results (mean correct and responses to individual items), study quality, and questionnaire quality. Data synthesis: All studies were of neutral quality. Tools used to measure knowledge did not consider health literacy, were outdated with regards to consensus recommendations, and lacked appropriate and adequate validation. The current status of nutrition knowledge in athletes and coaches is difficult to ascertain. Gaps in knowledge also remain unclear, but it is likely that energy density, the need for supplementation, and the role of protein are frequently misunderstood. Conclusions: Previous reports of nutrition knowledge need to be interpreted with caution. A new, universal, up-to-date, validated measure of general and sports nutrition knowledge is required to allow for assessment of nutrition knowledge.
Experimental Study of Light Propagation in Apple Tissues Using a Multispectral Imaging System
Authors: Askoura Mohamed , Vaudelle Fabrice , L’Huillier Jean-Pierre
Published: September 2016

This work aimed at highlighting the role played by the skin in the light propagation through the apple flesh. A multispectral Visible-Near Infrared (Vis-NIR) steady-state imaging setup based on the use of four continuous laser sources (633, 763, 784, and 852 nm) and a charge–coupled–device (CCD) camera was developed to record light diffusion inside apple tissues. Backscattering images and light reflectance profiles were studied to reveal optical features of three whole and half-cut apple varieties with and without skin. The optical absorption and scattering properties (μa, μ’s) of intact apples and peeled apples were also retrieved in reflectance mode, using an optimal sensing range of 2.8–10 mm. A relative difference for Δμa ranging from 3.4% to 24.7% was observed for intact apples with respect to peeled apples. Under the same conditions, no significant changes were noted for Δμ’s, which ranged from 0.1% to 1.7%. These findings show that the apple skin cannot be ignored when using Vis-NIR optical imaging as a non-destructive sensing means to reveal major quality attributes of fruits.