bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women, Freedom, and Agency in Religious Political Movements
Authors: Ben Shitrit Lihi
Published: August 2013

Women’s activism in conservative religious-political movements poses a challenge to liberal feminism. Why do women participate in great numbers in political organizations that seem to limit women’s freedom and equality? My work with women activists in the Islamic Movement and the Jewish ultra-Orthodox Shas Movement in Israel, both explicitly patriarchal religious revivalist groups similar to other movements across the Middle East, finds that these movements offer women powerful liberatory narratives. This paper takes issue with recent arguments that suggest that pious women experience agency in acts of submission rather than in resistance and that the association of agency with emancipatory desire and action is an expression of a patently Western tradition that celebrates the fiction of the autonomous individual. I find that women activists’ interpretations of agency in piety practices are highly invested in the idea of the autonomous individual. The validity of practices, according to activists, rests on the choice and consciousness of the individual and on the rejection of submission to social norms. Furthermore, when we take into account the various class and cultural contexts of Middle Eastern women’s piety practices and activism, we find that for many women religious movements offer real liberation from oppressive socio-economic realities and limiting cultural norms.
Extraction and Segmentation of Sputum Cells for Lung Cancer Early Diagnosis
Authors: Taher Fatma , Werghi Naoufel , Al-Ahmad Hussain , Donner Christian
Published: August 2013

Lung cancer has been the largest cause of cancer deaths worldwide with an overall 5-year survival rate of only 15%. Its symptoms can be found exclusively in advanced stages where the chances for patients to survive are very low, thus making the mortality rate the highest among all other types of cancer. The present work deals with the attempt to design computer-aided detection or diagnosis (CAD) systems for early detection of lung cancer based on the analysis of sputum color images. The aim is to reduce the false negative rate and to increase the true positive rate as much as possible. The early detection of lung cancer from sputum images is a challenging problem, due to both the structure of the cancer cells and the stained method which are employed in the formulation of the sputum cells. We present here a framework for the extraction and segmentation of sputum cells in sputum images using, respectively, a threshold classifier, a Bayesian classification and mean shift segmentation. Our methods are validated and compared with other competitive techniques via a series of experimentation conducted with a data set of 100 images. The extraction and segmentation results will be used as a base for a CAD system for early detection of lung cancer which will improve the chances of survival for the patient.
Decarboxylation of Pyruvate to Acetaldehyde for Ethanol Production by Hyperthermophiles
Authors: Eram Mohammad , Ma Kesen
Published: August 2013

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC encoded by pdc) is a thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)-containing enzyme responsible for the conversion of pyruvate to acetaldehyde in many mesophilic organisms. However, no pdc/PDC homolog has yet been found in fully sequenced genomes and proteomes of hyper/thermophiles. The only PDC activity reported in hyperthermophiles was a bifunctional, TPP- and CoA-dependent pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (POR)/PDC enzyme from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Another enzyme known to be involved in catalysis of acetaldehyde production from pyruvate is CoA-acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AcDH encoded by mhpF and adhE). Pyruvate is oxidized into acetyl-CoA by either POR or pyruvate formate lyase (PFL), and AcDH catalyzes the reduction of acetyl-CoA to acetaldehyde in mesophilic organisms. AcDH is present in some mesophilic (such as clostridia) and thermophilic bacteria (e.g., Geobacillus and Thermoanaerobacter). However, no AcDH gene or protein homologs could be found in the released genomes and proteomes of hyperthermophiles. Moreover, no such activity was detectable from the cell-free extracts of different hyperthermophiles under different assay conditions. In conclusion, no commonly-known PDCs was found in hyperthermophiles. Instead of the commonly-known PDC, it appears that at least one multifunctional enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the non-oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetaldehyde in hyperthermophiles.
Contract and Game Theory: Basic Concepts for Settings with Finite Horizons
Authors: Watson Joel
Published: August 2013

This paper examines a general model of contract in multi-period settings with both external and self-enforcement. In the model, players alternately engage in contract negotiation and take individual actions. A notion of contractual equilibrium, which combines a bargaining solution and individual incentive constraints, is proposed and analyzed. The modeling framework helps identify the relation between the manner in which players negotiate and the outcome of the long-term contractual relationship. In particular, the model shows the importance of accounting for the self-enforced component of contract in the negotiation process. Examples and guidance for applications are provided, along with existence results and a result on a monotone relation between “activeness of contracting” and contractual equilibrium values.
A Comparison of Precise Leveling and Persistent Scatterer SAR Interferometry for Building Subsidence Rate Measurement
Authors: Karila Kirsi , Karjalainen Mika , Hyyppä Juha , Koskinen Jarkko , Saaranen Veikko , Rouhiainen Paavo
Published: August 2013

It is well known that the most accurate method to detect changes of height is the geodetic precise leveling method. Due to the high demand work and time needed for precise leveling alternative methods are studied to obtain high quality height information. Differential SAR interferometry techniques such as the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) method are studied to detect millimeter level deformations in urban areas. Additionally, SAR analysis will provide spatially extensive information on subsidence. On the other hand, PSI subsidence rates have not yet been comprehensively compared to the precise leveling measurements of the subsidence of individual buildings. Typically subsidence rates are interpolated to a continuous spatial surface, but in this study, spatially discontinuous subsidence was measured for a set of individual buildings. Therefore, we conducted three precise leveling campaigns and measured in total 82 geodetic-grade bolts, which were tightly attached to the building foundations. Moreover, we used additional leveling data (obtained from the local authorities), which contained long time series of leveling data for individual buildings. In the present study, ERS and ENVISAT satellite SAR data were processed using a PSI algorithm and the results were compared to leveling data of individual buildings.
Understanding Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa: Protecting American Government Interests, Improving the Opportunities for American Companies, or Potentially Hurting Hopeful Immigrants?
Authors: Stonawski Rebecca
Published: August 2013

This paper will examine the US government’s proposed changes to the H-1B visa, a dual-intent visa meant to bring highly-skilled individuals to the US labor market. It will first explain what the H-1B visa is and is not and what might happen to the H-1B visa in the future. The focus of the paper, however, will be on how the H-1B visa program is failing. The thesis of this article is that reform to the H-1B visa may be very good for the US employer and the US economy. However, the proposed legislation keeps a number of disadvantageous features for H-1B holders intact, rather than addressing them.
An Aeroplysinin-1 Specific Nitrile Hydratase Isolated from the Marine Sponge Aplysina cavernicola
Authors: Lipowicz Bartosz , Hanekop Nils , Schmitt Lutz , Proksch Peter
Published: August 2013

A nitrile hydratase (NHase) that specifically accepts the nitrile aeroplysinin-1 (1) as a substrate and converts it into the dienone amide verongiaquinol (7) was isolated, partially purified and characterized from the Mediterranean sponge Aplysina cavernicola; although it is currently not known whether the enzyme is of sponge origin or produced by its symbiotic microorganisms. The formation of aeroplysinin-1 and of the corresponding dienone amide is part of the chemical defence system of A. cavernicola. The latter two compounds that show strong antibiotic activity originate from brominated isoxazoline alkaloids that are thought to protect the sponges from invasion of bacterial pathogens. The sponge was shown to contain at least two NHases as two excised protein bands from a non denaturating Blue Native gel showed nitrile hydratase activity, which was not observed for control samples. The enzymes were shown to be manganese dependent, although cobalt and nickel ions were also able to recover the activity of the nitrile hydratases. The temperature and pH optimum of the studied enzymes were found at 41 °C and pH 7.8. The enzymes showed high substrate specificity towards the physiological substrate aeroplysinin-1 (1) since none of the substrate analogues that were prepared either by partial or by total synthesis were converted in an in vitro assay. Moreover de-novo sequencing by mass spectrometry was employed to obtain information about the primary structure of the studied NHases, which did not reveal any homology to known NHases.
Lysis of a Single Cyanobacterium for Whole Genome Amplification
Authors: Hall Eric , Kim Samuel , Appadoo Visham , Zare Richard
Published: August 2013

Bacterial species from natural environments, exhibiting a great degree of genetic diversity that has yet to be characterized, pose a specific challenge to whole genome amplification (WGA) from single cells. A major challenge is establishing an effective, compatible, and controlled lysis protocol. We present a novel lysis protocol that can be used to extract genomic information from a single cyanobacterium of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 known to have multilayer cell wall structures that resist conventional lysis methods. Simple but effective strategies for releasing genomic DNA from captured cells while retaining cellular identities for single-cell analysis are presented. Successful sequencing of genetic elements from single-cell amplicons prepared by multiple displacement amplification (MDA) is demonstrated for selected genes (15 loci nearly equally spaced throughout the main chromosome).
Dietary Fructose Feeding Increases Adipose Methylglyoxal Accumulation in Rats in Association with Low Expression and Activity of Glyoxalase-2
Authors: Masterjohn Christopher , Park Youngki , Lee Jiyoung , Noh Sang , Koo Sung , Bruno Richard
Published: August 2013

Methylglyoxal is a precursor to advanced glycation endproducts that may contribute to diabetes and its cardiovascular-related complications. Methylglyoxal is successively catabolized to d-lactate by glyoxalase-1 and glyoxalase-2. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary fructose and green tea extract (GTE) differentially regulate methylglyoxal accumulation in liver and adipose, mediated by tissue-specific differences in the glyoxalase system. We fed six week old male Sprague-Dawley rats a low-fructose diet (10% w/w) or a high-fructose diet (60% w/w) containing no GTE or GTE at 0.5% or 1.0% for nine weeks. Fructose-fed rats had higher (P < 0.05) adipose methylglyoxal, but GTE had no effect. Plasma and hepatic methylglyoxal were unaffected by fructose and GTE. Fructose and GTE also had no effect on the expression or activity of glyoxalase-1 and glyoxalase-2 at liver or adipose. Regardless of diet, adipose glyoxalase-2 activity was 10.8-times lower (P < 0.05) than adipose glyoxalase-1 activity and 5.9-times lower than liver glyoxalase-2 activity. Adipose glyoxalase-2 activity was also inversely related to adipose methylglyoxal (r = −0.61; P < 0.05). These findings suggest that fructose-mediated adipose methylglyoxal accumulation is independent of GTE supplementation and that its preferential accumulation in adipose compared to liver is due to low constitutive expression of glyoxalase-2.
Current Evidence of Chinese Herbal Constituents with Effects on NMDA Receptor Blockade
Authors: Liang Willmann , Lam Wai , Tang Hong , Leung Ping , Yew David
Published: August 2013

NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) is an important molecular entity governing a wide range of functions in the central nervous system. For example, the NMDA-R is involved in memory and cognition, and impairment of both (as in Alzheimer’s Disease) is attributed to NMDA-mediated neurotoxicity. With greater understanding of the NMDA-R structure, antagonists with varying degrees of binding-site and subtype selectivity have been developed and put into clinical use. Discovery of target-specific Chinese herbs have also been made in parallel. This article provides an overview of the known active sites on the NMDA-R, followed by a discussion of the relevant herbs and their constituents. Experimental evidence supporting the inhibitory role of the herbal compounds on the NMDA-R is highlighted. For some of the compounds, potential research directions are also proposed to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the herbs. It is envisaged that future investigations based on the present data will allow more clinically relevant herbs to be identified.
The Flux of Phenolic Compounds through Silicone Membranes
Authors: Prybylski John , Sloan Kenneth
Published: August 2013

Phenols as a class of molecules have been reported to exhibit higher log maximum fluxes through human stratum corneum, SC, from water, log JMHAQ, than other classes of molecules. This suggests that their corresponding log maximum fluxes through silicone from water, log JMPAQ, may be useful to extend the existing n = 63 log JMPAQ database to include more log JMPAQ values greater than 0.0. The log JMPAQ values for n = 7 phenols predicted to give log JMPAQ values greater than 0.0 based on their log JMHAQ values have been experimentally determined. These n = 7 new log JMPAQ values have been added to the existing n = 63 log JMPAQ database to give a new n = 70 database and the n = 7 literature log JMHAQ values have been added to the existing n = 48 log JMHAQ database (matched to the n = 63 log JMPAQ database) to give a new n = 55 database. The addition of the n = 7 phenols improved the correlations of these flux databases when fitted to the Roberts-Sloan equation, RS, as well as the correlation between the matched experimental (Exp.) log JMPAQ with the Exp. log JMHAQ.
Textile-Based Weft Knitted Strain Sensors: Effect of Fabric Parameters on Sensor Properties
Authors: Atalay Ozgur , Kennon William , Husain Muhammad
Published: August 2013

The design and development of textile-based strain sensors has been a focus of research and many investigators have studied this subject. This paper presents a new textile-based strain sensor design and shows the effect of base fabric parameters on its sensing properties. Sensing fabric could be used to measure articulations of the human body in the real environment. The strain sensing fabric was produced by using electronic flat-bed knitting technology; the base fabric was produced with elastomeric yarns in an interlock arrangement and a conductive yarn was embedded in this substrate to create a series of single loop structures. Experimental results show that there is a strong relationship between base fabric parameters and sensor properties.
Heat Transmission Coefficient Measurements in Buildings Utilizing a Heat Loss Measuring Device
Authors: Sørensen Lars
Published: August 2013

Global energy efficiency can be obtained in two ordinary ways. One way is to improve the energy production and supply side, and the other way is, in general, to reduce the consumption of energy in society. This paper has focus on the latter and especially the consumption of energy for heating and cooling our houses. There is a huge energy-saving potential in this area for reducing both the global climate problems as well as economy challenges. Heating of buildings in Denmark accounts for approximately 40% of the entire national energy consumption. For this reason, a reduction of heat losses from building envelopes are of great importance in order to reach the Bologna CO2 emission reduction targets. Upgrading of the energy performance of buildings is a topic of huge global interest these years. Not only heating in the temperate and arctic regions are important, but also air conditioning and mechanical ventilation in the “warm countries” contribute to an enormous energy consumption and corresponding CO2 emission. In order to establish the best basis for upgrading the energy performance, it is important to make measurements of the heat losses at different places on a building facade, in order to optimize the energy performance. This paper presents a method for measuring the heat loss by utilizing a U-value meter. The U-value meter measures the heat transfer in the unit W/Km2 and has been used in several projects to upgrade the energy performance in temperate regions. The U-value meter was also utilized in an EUDP (Energy Technological Development and Demonstration Program) focusing on renovation of houses from the 1960s and 1970s.
Primers for phylogeny reconstruction in Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae) using herbarium samples
Authors: Zuntini Alexandre R. , Fonseca Luiz Henrique M. , Lohmann Lúcia G.
Published: August 2013

• Premise of the study: New primers were developed for Bignonieae to enable phylogenetic studies within this clade using herbarium samples.

• Methods and Results: Internal primers were designed based on available sequences of the plastid ndhF gene and the rpl32‐trnL intergenic spacer region, and the nuclear gene PepC. The resulting primers were used to amplify DNA extracted from herbarium materials. High‐quality data were obtained from herbarium samples up to 53 yr old.

• Conclusions: The standardized methodology allows the inclusion of herbarium materials as alternative sources of DNA for phylogenetic studies in Bignonieae.
Taxonomic revision of the genus Logfia (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) in the Mediterranean region
Authors: Andrés-Sánchez Santiago , Martínez-Ortega M. Montserrat , Rico Enrique
Published: August 2013

The genus Logfia Cass. was described by Cassini in 1819 and has always been considered closely related to Filago L. The species of Logfia have been frequently included within Filago but, recently, based on morphological characters and DNA sequence analysis it has been demostrated that Logfia is more closely related to the American representatives of the tribe Filagininae than to the genus Filago and the idea that Filago and Logfia should be considered independent genera has been resurrected. In this work, the first complete taxonomic account for the western Mediterranean taxa belonging to Logfia is presented, based on the revision of more than 3400 sheets lodged at 32 herbaria. A detailed description of the genus and a key for the four species present in the study area are proposed. Descriptions of all species together with a complete nomenclatural treatment, as well as indications about habitat preferences, phenology, and geographic distribution are also provided. Additionally nine nomenclatural types are designated, among them, the lectotypes for the accepted names Logfia clementei (Willk.) Holub and Logfia minima (Sm.) Dumort. and the neotype of Logfia heterantha (Raf.) Holub.
An Integrated Strategy for Grassland Easement Acquisition in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA
Authors: Walker Johann , Rotella Jay J. , Loesch Charles R. , Renner Randy W. , Ringelman James K. , Lindberg Mark S. , Dell Randal , Doherty Kevin E.
Published: August 2013

Acquisition of perpetual grassland easements is a principal tactic used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and its partners to protect nesting habitat for migratory birds in the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota, USA. This public–private partnership resulted in the conservation of >344,000 ha of grassland during 1998–2012. Past easement acquisition has been targeted to landscapes with greatest expected accessibility to breeding duck pairs without active consideration of probability of conversion or cost of protection. The rising cost of easement acquisition in recent years indicates that re-evaluation and refinement of the easement acquisition strategy could help to improve programmatic outcomes. We assessed regional patterns of easement acquisition during 1998–2012, evaluated the current targeting strategy, and used a combination of publicly available and proprietary geospatial data to develop an easement-targeting Geographic Information System that integrated information about conversion probability and protection cost with current targeting criteria. Our assessment indicated that grassland protection was negatively affected by rising land prices during 1998–2012. In the 5 y between 2008 and 2012, about 100,000 ha of grassland were protected at a cost of $83 million (U.S. dollars). The 2008–2012 acquisitions represented 30% of total protection during 1998–2012 but composed 47% of the total expenditure. We observed strong evidence that easements were targeted to priority landscapes both before and after formalization of the USFWS conservation strategy in 2004. We also found evidence of an opportunity to increase efficiency of future acquisitions. We identified 0.9 million ha of currently unprotected priority grassland in the region with greater than expected conversion risk and smaller than expected protection cost. We suggest that future grassland easement acquisition be refocused on this refined priority area and that an adaptive approach to future easement acquisition (including targeted acquisitions, directed monitoring, and data-based decisions) provides a logical framework for implementation of this new strategy and will facilitate continued conservation success.
Managing “Virtuality”
Authors: Morley Sandra , Cormican Kathryn , Coleman Maébh
Published: August 2013

A wealth of research is associated with virtual teams and collaboration technologies; however, no integrated model is available to guide decision-makers at large organisations in the strategic implementation and management of “virtuality.” Whilst collaboration through technology has become commonplace in modern teams, it is not yet clear if Enterprise 2.0 organisations have made changes to accommodate and support this new mode of work. In other words, managing “virtuality” requires supporting tools and research in order to maximise the benefits and diminish the challenges inherent in it. This chapter presents findings of research relating to managing “virtualtiy” that culminates in the development and evaluation of a management model that guides large organisations in implementing and managing virtual teams. The findings demonstrate that there are benefits associated with virtual teamwork; however, a structured approach is essential to realise and maximise such benefits. The authors uncover several critical success factors in managing virtual teams, and they also learned that the implementation of enabling technologies must be carefully planned to ensure successful adoption by the intended audience. This chapter provides practitioners with a structured approach to implementing and managing virtual teams in an Enterprise 2.0 environment. Essential conditions for success are identified, specific organisational level tasks are presented, a process to ensure the introduction of new technologies is documented, and the critical success factors to create and manage virtual teams are synthesised and presented.
E-Health Sites Development Using Open Source Software and OMT Methodology as Support for Family Doctors’ Activities
Authors: Rosu Sebastian Marius , Dragoi George
Published: August 2013

E-health is the generic term used for the set of tools based on information and communication technology used to help prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor the health and lifestyles and to improve these processes. These considerations are the starting point of this chapter, which presents a Website development solution for family doctors’ consulting-rooms to meet the needs of potential patients, based on Object Modeling Technique (OMT) and Open Source Software (OSS) in a metropolitan area network infrastructure. Development of ICT leaves much more freedom to the consultants to accommodate organizations to other influences, both internal and external.
The Impact of Web 2.0 in the Teaching and Learning Process
Authors: Costa Carolina , Teixeira Leonor , Alvelos Helena
Published: August 2013

Web 2.0 represents the second generation of the Web applications, based on online services collaboration and sharing that promote different ways of interaction between people. These applications provide several collaboration and communication opportunities, like social interaction, feedback, conversation, and networking, thus being a perfect environment for the teaching and learning context. The main goal of this chapter is to present the most used Web 2.0 tools, their major advantages and disadvantages, and their specificity when used in the teaching and learning process. It is believed that their use can greatly improve the teaching and learning process and, consequently, the need to adjust the traditional practice to the new technological paradigm emerges.
The Evolving Value of eTourism for Suppliers and Visitors
Authors: Estêvão João V. , Carneiro Maria João , Teixeira Leonor
Published: August 2013

The tourism industry is known to have an extensive use of the Internet, both on the supply and on the demand side. The steady and fast emergence of the Internet has dramatically changed the business processes within the sector, forcing suppliers and intermediaries to adapt to a scenario in which visitors have multiple and more flexible choices regarding the search, planning, booking, and purchase of tourism services and products. This chapter explores the main impacts and trends that the dynamic use of the Internet within the tourism sector—the so-called eTourism—has originated in each of the sector’s main stakeholders, including suppliers, intermediaries, destination management organizations, and tourists.
Enterprise 2.0 in Engineering Curriculum
Authors: Ahrens Andreas , Bassus Olaf , Zaščerinska Jeļena
Published: August 2013

Engineering education is facing a challenge to bring e-business closer to student engineers. Enterprise 2.0 application in engineering education advances engineering students’ enterprise for the development of innovative products, processes, and services. The aim of the research is to analyze student engineers’ Enterprise 2.0 application underpinning elaboration of pedagogical guidelines on student engineers’ Enterprise 2.0 application in engineering curriculum. The meaning of key concepts of Enterprise 2.0 and engineering curriculum is studied. Moreover, the study indicates how the steps of the process are related following a logical chain: Enterprise 2.0 ? engineering curriculum design ? modelling Enterprise 2.0 application in engineering curriculum ? empirical study within a multicultural environment. The present empirical research was conducted during the Baltic Summer School “Technical Informatics and Information Technology” in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The findings of the research allow drawing the conclusions that student engineers’ Enterprise 2.0 application in engineering curriculum is efficient.
Immune Dysfunction and Bacterial Coinfections following Influenza
Authors: Metzger Dennis W. , Sun Keer
Published: August 2013

Secondary pulmonary infections by encapsulated bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus following influenza represent a common and challenging clinical problem. The reasons for this polymicrobial synergy are still not completely understood, hampering development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Although it has been commonly thought that viral-induced epithelial cell damage allows bacterial invasiveness, recent studies by several groups have now implicated dysfunctional innate immune defenses following influenza as the primary culprit for enhanced susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections. Understanding the immunological imbalances that are responsible for virus/bacteria synergy will ultimately allow the design of effective, broad-spectrum therapeutic approaches for prevention of enhanced susceptibility to these pathogens.
Disaster risk reduction in the Omusati and Oshana regions of Namibia
Authors: Amadhila Elina , Shaamhula Loide , Van Rooy Gert , Siyambango Nguza
Published: August 2013

Namibia often experiences heavy rains in the north and north-eastern parts of the country, which results in severe flooding. For this reason, the country has endorsed the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) which seeks to develop the resilience of nations and communities to disasters and to assist countries to move away from the approach of emergency response to one of integrated disaster risk reduction. The aim of this article is to assess the resilience of the communities within the identified regions. A quantitative questionnaire was designed to assess people at risk of disaster related impacts. The questionnaire used 20 indicators to measure the level of progress at local level and how local governance plays a role in the mitigation and management of disasters. Analysis of data was done on a limited number of descriptors such as age, gender and local governance involvement, amongst others. There was generally a very high perception of threat (38%) in the study regions. Women perceived threat more accurately (mean = 4.09) than men. The community perceived threat more accurately than local government and civil society (mean = 4.08).
Enhancing Cancer Drug Discovery through Novel Cell Signaling Pathway Panel Strategy
Authors: Schweizer Liang , Zhang Litao
Published: August 2013

The link between signaling pathways and diseases suggests the importance of pathway analysis for drug discovery. This includes target identification and validation, compound mode of action and drug candidate optimization. Here, we propose to apply cell signaling pathway panel approaches for oncology drug discovery. The strategies and guiding principles of the pathway panel approach are discussed. 2 pathway analysis examples with related processes and technology platforms are illustrated to identify cancer drugs that target cancer growth and metastasis. Finally, we highlight potential challenges and opportunities presented by the pathway panel approach.
Two spatial scales in a bleaching event: Corals from the mildest and the most extreme thermal environments escape mortality
Authors: Pineda Jesús , Starczak Victoria , Tarrant Ann , Blythe Jonathan , Davis Kristen , Farrar Tom , Berumen Michael , da Silva José C. B.
Published: August 2013

In summer 2010, a bleaching event decimated the abundant reef flat coral Stylophora pistillata in some areas of the central Red Sea, where a series of coral reefs 100–300 m wide by several kilometers long extends from the coastline to about 20 km offshore. Mortality of corals along the exposed and protected sides of inner (inshore) and mid and outer (offshore) reefs and in situ and satellite sea surface temperatures (SSTs) revealed that the variability in the mortality event corresponded to two spatial scales of temperature variability: 300 m across the reef flat and 20 km across a series of reefs. However, the relationship between coral mortality and habitat thermal severity was opposite at the two scales. SSTs in summer 2010 were similar or increased modestly (0.5°C) in the outer and mid reefs relative to 2009. In the inner reef, 2010 temperatures were 1.4°C above the 2009 seasonal maximum for several weeks. We detected little or no coral mortality in mid and outer reefs. In the inner reef, mortality depended on exposure. Within the inner reef, mortality was modest on the protected (shoreward) side, the most severe thermal environment, with highest overall mean and maximum temperatures. In contrast, acute mortality was observed in the exposed (seaward) side, where temperature fluctuations and upper water temperature values were relatively less extreme. Refuges to thermally induced coral bleaching may include sites where extreme, high‐frequency thermal variability may select for coral holobionts preadapted to, and physiologically condition corals to withstand, regional increases in water temperature.
Entrainment and retention of the coastal larval fish assemblage by a short‐lived, submesoscale, frontal eddy of the East Australian Current
Authors: Mullaney Thomas J. , Suthers Iain M.
Published: August 2013

We examined the fate of larval fish assemblages after the East Australian Current (EAC) had separated from the coast and larval fish were advected eastward along the Tasman Front. There was no difference in the assemblages at four stations as the EAC meandered from the continental shelf to 220 km eastward. At a fifth station, we sampled a submesoscale, frontal eddy that had formed at the EAC separation zone 11 d earlier and had entrained shelf water. Zooplankton biomass was greater within the eddy compared to the adjacent shelf. The larval fish assemblage in the eddy was significantly different from all other stations. There was an order of magnitude greater abundance of three species characteristic of the shelf: sardine (Sardinops sagax; Clupeidae), blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus; Scombridae), and yellowtail scad (Trachurus novaezelandiae; Carangidae), which were also significantly larger than larvae from a station on the adjacent shelf. In particular, S. sagax in the eddy were ∼ 5 mm longer and ∼ 10 d older, although growth rates were similar. Larval retention in the eddy was inferred from the co‐occurrence of small and large larvae of all three species compared to the adjacent shelf. The EAC is only 20–30 km from the inner‐shelf water, where frontal eddies may facilitate three stages of successful recruitment: entrainment, enrichment, and retention. Frontal eddies off southeastern Australia entrain preconditioned shelf water, move slower than the mean flow of the EAC, decreasing transport rates, and may sustain planktonic communities through eddy uplift. These eddies are frequent and short‐lived (2 to 4 weeks), and we suspect they are of fisheries importance as their duration is sufficient for fish larvae to complete their early life history and, presumably, recruit back to the coast.
Temporal and spatial variability of the internal wave field in a lake with complex morphometry
Authors: Vidal Javier , MacIntyre Sally , McPhee-Shaw Erika E. , Shaw William J. , Monismith Stephen G.
Published: August 2013

To quantify the effect of basin morphometry on internal wave dynamics, we installed thermistor arrays around the perimeter of Mono Lake, California. The lake's complex bathymetry includes alongshore bottom slopes ranging from < 1% up to 9% and a steep‐sided peninsula‐like island. Under the influence of the dominating winds from the south, isopycnals downwelled along the long axis of the lake as well as along an axis parallel to the peninsula, generating vertical mode 2 horizontal mode 2 internal waves. On relaxation of the wind, a horizontal mode 2 Kelvin wave evolved with a period of ∼ 22 h in each of the two sub‐basins. The response of the internal wave field to high winds was spatially variable, with higher vertical excursions of isopycnals and higher rates of strain, indicative of non‐linearity and turbulence, at both sides of the peninsula and near steep sloping boundaries to the south. Rate of strain squared was enhanced up to three orders of magnitude relative to background rates depending on bottom slope. Model comparisons in which the island was moved to the center of the lake or removed showed a dominant horizontal mode 1 wave and stronger influence of rotation. Increased complexity of basin morphometry modified the horizontal and vertical phase structure of dominant basin‐scale waves, redistributed the potential energy in the internal wave field over space, and shifted the positions of the basins in which the waves rotated. Whether turbulence increased with these shifts depended on the incidence of steep topography.
Equatorial dispersal barriers and limited population connectivity among oceans in a planktonic copepod
Authors: Norton Emily L. , Goetze Erica
Published: August 2013

We investigated population genetic structure within and between ocean basins in the common mesopelagic copepod, Haloptilus longicornis, using the mitochondrial marker cytochrome oxidase subunit II (mtCOII, 43 locations, n = 1059). We found highly significant genetic divergence among ocean basins (global FST = 0.20; p < 0.00001), with the exception of relatively weak genetic divergence between the South Atlantic and Indian oceans. Strong genetic breaks also were observed between populations in the northern and southern subtropical gyres of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans (Atlantic: FCT = 0.21, Pacific: FCT = 0.15, AMOVA, p < 0.00001 for both oceans; where FCT measures genetic divergence among groups). In the Atlantic, a region of low abundance for H. longicornis in equatorial waters coincided with the location of the observed genetic break (∼ 0–12°N), suggesting the presence of a physical or bio‐physical barrier that effectively limits migration among subtropical gyre systems for this species. Using oceanographic data from a basin‐scale transect, we provide the first environmental portrait of an open‐ocean dispersal barrier for the marine plankton. Within all four Atlantic and Pacific subtropical gyres, we found a general lack of genetic subdivision among sites, as has been observed in a few other globally distributed plankton species.
Low microbial respiration of leucine at ambient oceanic concentration in the mixed layer of the central Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Hill Polly G. , Warwick Phillip E. , Zubkov Mikhail V.
Published: August 2013

Bacterioplankton are the primary consumers of dissolved organic matter in the ocean, thus the quantification of bacterioplankton production (BP) is essential to our understanding of carbon cycling in the largest ecosystems on Earth. We compared BP, measured as the rate of 14C‐leucine or 3H‐leucine uptake at close to saturating concentration (20 nmol L−1), with ambient uptake measured from dilution bioassays. We hypothesized that saturation with leucine would lead to its respiration as a carbon source, thereby not truly representing ambient BP. Seawater was collected from the photic zone throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Respiration as a proportion of total consumption (uptake + respiration) of close to ambient (0.4 nmol L−1) and close to saturating (20 nmol L−1) 14C‐leucine concentrations were compared. Saturating 3H‐leucine additions overestimated ambient leucine uptake at low rates (200% ± 100% ambient) and underestimated uptake at high rates (90% + 20% ambient). The proportion of total leucine uptake that was respired was threefold higher for 20 nmol L−1 14C‐leucine additions than 0.4 nmol L−1 14C‐leucine additions (15% ± 8% and 5% ± 4%, respectively). Consequently, microbial efficiency of leucine assimilation—an indicator of bacterioplankton growth efficiency—was significantly higher and more stable at close to ambient 14C‐leucine additions than at saturating concentrations (95% ± 4% and 85% ± 8%, respectively). Thus, saturation of oligotrophic open Atlantic Ocean bacterioplankton with leucine, or other molecules indicative of microbial metabolism, leads to the measurement of a response to a nutrient addition, rather than an ambient measurement.
Dynamics of groundwater‐derived nitrate and nitrous oxide in a tidal estuary from radon mass balance modeling
Authors: Wong Wei Wen , Grace Michael R. , Cartwright Ian , Cardenas M. Bayani , Zamora Peter B. , Cook Perran L. M.
Published: August 2013

We monitored submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the Werribee Estuary, Australia, using both chemical and physical methods. SGD occurred at hotspots where 222Rn persisted through a 12 month survey period. A significant correlation between 222Rn and (r2 = 0.8, p < 0.01), as well as between 222Rn and N2O (r2 = 0.6, p < 0.01) at a 222Rn hotspot, and much higher and N2O concentrations in groundwater relative to surface water suggest that elevated and N2O concentrations in the estuary were derived from SGD. Two sampling campaigns over 24 h revealed that variations of 222Rn,, and N2O were controlled by tide‐induced hydraulic‐head gradient fluctuations and, possibly to a much lesser extent, by tidal pumping and density‐driven convection. A two‐box 222Rn mass‐balance model was used to calculate the rate of SGD into two different layers across the pycnocline of the estuary. A higher total groundwater discharge rate of 0.12 ± 0.09 m d−1 was observed in the surface layer during ebb tide compared with 0.10 ± 0.08 m d−1 during flood tide. Fluxes of groundwater‐derived and N2O were higher than the riverine flux at baseflow by more than 30 fold and 20 fold, respectively. SGD derived fluxes exceeded the mean annual riverine and TN fluxes by a factor of ∼ 5 and ∼ 3 respectively. SGD‐derived N2O fluxes were 170 µmol m−2 d−1, which are among the highest N2O fluxes observed in estuaries.
Silicic acid supplied to coastal diatom communities influences cellular silicification and the potential export of carbon
Authors: Durkin Colleen A. , Bender Sara J. , Chan Kit Yu Karen , Gaessner Kelsey , Grünbaum Daniel , Armbrust E. Virginia
Published: August 2013

Microcosm experiments were conducted along the Washington and Oregon coasts in May 2009, May 2010, and July 2010 to determine whether variation in the supply of silicic acid from the Columbia River could influence the silicification and sinking potential of coastal diatom blooms. The chlorophyll a concentration increased similarly in communities incubated with added nitrate or both nitrate and silicic acid, indicating that growth was limited by nitrate availability. Communities that grew in the treatment with added silicic acid and nitrate were more silicified than communities in the treatment with only nitrate added. No difference in community composition was detected between these treatments in three out of four experiments. Isolates of Minutocellus, Cylindrotheca, Thalassiosira, and Odontella were obtained from the microcosm experiment conducted in May 2010 and were maintained in the laboratory in 20 µmol L−1 silicic acid. All four diatom isolates contained ∼ 2.5 times more silica per cell when silicic acid concentration in the media was increased to 80 µmol L−1. The intensity of a fluorescent cellular stain of newly precipitated silica (2‐(4‐pyridyl)‐5{[4‐dimethylaminoethyl‐aminocarbamoyl)‐methoxy]phenyl}oxazole) strongly correlated with silica content among species, but was a less sensitive indicator of changing silicification within a single species. Changes in silicification were not correlated with changes in the transcript abundance of silicic acid transporters. Sinking rates increased roughly 2‐fold for cells that contained ∼ 2.5 times more silica. Variation in silicic acid supply alters the silicification of nitrate‐fueled coastal diatom blooms and the potential sink of carbon from coastal zones.
Effects of a wind‐driven cross‐shelf large river plume on biological production and CO2 uptake on the Gulf of Mexico during spring
Authors: Huang Wei-Jen , Cai Wei-Jun , Castelao Renato M. , Wang Yongchen , Lohrenz Steven E.
Published: August 2013

The plume of Mississippi and Atchafalaya River system (MARS) is normally confined to the continental shelf and extends westward. During March 2010, while weather in North America was dominated by unusually low temperatures and winter storms in conjunction with large low‐pressure systems, we observed an unusually broad extension of the MARS plume. Winds favorable for offshore transport along with high freshwater discharge contributed to a widespread MARS plume, which was statistically different from those normally occurring in spring. A strong relationship was observed between the location of this widespread plume and a reduced partial pressure of carbon dioxide () and elevated satellite‐derived chlorophyll a. Furthermore, in the plume was reduced by 6.3 Pa (62 ppm) in March 2010 in contrast to a reduction of only 2.4 Pa in April 2009, thus exhibiting a greater CO2 uptake capacity in March 2010. This wide plume also covered at least twice the area and was a stronger CO2 sink by a factor of five when compared to more typical plume conditions in April 2009. Extending across the Louisiana shelf to the pelagic ocean, this widespread MARS plume encompassed regions that would normally exhibit nearly net zero air‐sea CO2 exchange and resulted instead in a strong net sink for atmospheric CO2. Our findings demonstrate that regional weather‐associated variations in wind forcing and river discharge may be important in influencing air‐sea CO2 fluxes in marginal sea environments.
Low nutrient availability reduces high‐irradiance‐induced viability loss in oceanic phytoplankton
Authors: Kulk Gemma , van de Poll Willem H. , Visser Ronald J. W. , Buma Anita G. J.
Published: August 2013

In situ viability of oceanic phytoplankton may be relatively low in open oceans. This is assumed to be related to the high‐irradiance and low‐nutrient conditions typical for oligotrophic regions. However, experimental evidence for this phenomenon was not yet available. In the present study, the importance of nutrient availability in high‐irradiance‐induced viability loss was therefore studied for three key oceanic phytoplankton species. Prochlorococcus marinus, Ostreococcus sp., and Thalassiosira oceanica were acclimated to two different N : P ratios. Growth, viability, and photophysiology were assessed under nutrient‐replete and N‐ and P‐starved conditions. Simultaneously, high‐irradiance‐induced photoinhibition and viability loss were measured and three inhibitors were used to investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms contributing to viability loss. High‐irradiance exposure caused viability loss in P. marinus and Ostreococcus sp., but not in T. oceanica. Low‐nutrient availability enhanced survival during high‐irradiance exposure, although species‐specific differences were observed. The lower sensitivity to high‐irradiance intensities at low‐nutrient availability was related to conformational changes in photosystem II in P. marinus, to enhanced photoprotection by the xanthophyll pigment cycle and alternative electron transport in Ostreococcus sp., and to enhanced photoprotection by the xanthophyll pigment cycle in T. oceanica. Climate change may lead to enhanced stratification in the open ocean. The resulting increase in the average irradiance intensity phytoplankton experience may promote viability loss in the smallest phytoplankton size fraction. However, this effect may partially be counteracted by the simultaneously expected decrease in nutrient availability.