bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in research on the main nutritional quality of daylily, an important flower vegetable of Liliaceae
Authors: Wang Li-Xiang , Wang Ya-Hui , Chen Chen , Liu Jie-Xia , Li Tong , Li Jing-Wen , Liu Pei-Zhuo , Xu De-Bao , Shu Sheng , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: August 2024

Daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) is a perennial herb of the genus Hemerocallis of Liliaceae. It is also an economically important crop and is widely cultivated. Daylily has nutritional, medicinal and ornamental values. The research literature shows that daylily is a high-quality food raw material rich in soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, dietary fiber, carotenoids, mineral elements, polyphenols and other nutrients, which are effective in clearing heat and diuresis, resolving bruises and stopping bleeding, strengthening the stomach and brain, and reducing serum cholesterol levels. This article reviews the main nutrients of daylily and summarizes the drying process of daylily. In addition, due to the existence of active ingredients, daylily also has a variety of biological activities that are beneficial to human health. This article also highlights the nutritional quality of daylily, the research progress of dried vegetable rehydration technology and dried daylily. In the end, the undeveloped molecular mechanism and functional research status of daylily worldwide are introduced in order to provide reference for the nutritional quality research and dried processing industry of daylily.
SATURAÇÃO POR BASES E DOSES DE P NO CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE MUDAS DE Swietenia macrophylla
Authors: Vieira Cristiane Ramos , Botelho Rosangela Araujo , Costa Patrícia Paz da , Costa Rosangela Natalina Zattar da
Published: August 2024

O mogno brasileiro (Swietenia macrophylla) é uma espécie arbórea nativa, cuja madeira é apreciada para construção civil, móveis, instrumentos, dentre outras utilidades. No entanto, faz-se necessário conhecer mais a respeito das exigências nutricionais dessa espécie. Diante disso, desenvolveu-se experimento com o objetivo de avaliar a saturação por bases e diferentes níveis de P no crescimento inicial das mudas do mogno brasileiro. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco repetições, sendo: T0 – 100% solo; T1 – 100 mg dm-3 P; T2 – 150 mg dm-3 P; T3 – 200 mg dm-3 P; T4 – V50% + 100 mg dm-3 P; T5 – V50% + 150 mg dm-3 P; T6 – V50% + 200 mg dm-3 P. Para caracterizar o crescimento das mudas foram avaliadas as características morfológicas das plantas ao final de 90 dias. Verificou-se que, o solo, in natura, não deve ser utilizado como substrato, sem a complementação das suas condições de fertilidade. Recomendando-se para a produção de mudas de S. macrophylla, a adição de calcário para a elevação da saturação por bases para 50% e adubação com 100 mg dm-3 de P ao solo, para que se obtenha mudas com as melhores condições de crescimento e de produção de massa seca.
Diagnóstico do meio físico em área de cemitério horizontal para enquadramento nos parâmetros da Resolução do CONAMA nº 335/03.
Authors: Da Cunha Marcelo Mauri Mauri , Devantier Neuenfeldt Patrícia
Published: August 2024

Os cemitérios são atividades potencialmente causadoras de impactos ambientais. Sua instalação em ambiente com meio físico adequado é fator determinante para evitar impactos, principalmente com relação a deterioração da qualidade da água subterrânea. Nesse sentido, a Resolução do CONAMA nº 335/03 estabelece alguns critérios técnicos voltados a geologia e hidrogeologia que devem ser respeitados no projeto e execução desses espaços. Desta forma com objetivo de estudar o meio físico da área onde está instalado o cemitério municipal de Araquari-SC, principalmente com relação ao coeficiente de permeabilidade do solo, índice de infiltração e nível freático, foram realizadas perfurações para coleta de material e instalações de poços de monitoramento viabilizando a determinação do nível freático e a coleta de amostras de água subterrânea. Com relação as amostras de água, foram analisados os parâmetros presentes na Resolução CONSEMA nº 119/2017. Os resultados do ensaio de permeabilidade e textura indicaram que o solo não é adequado para a instalação de cemitérios por apresentarem resultados em desconformidade com as normas reguladoras. As análises das amostras de água apresentaram resultados em desconformidade com os limites estabelecidos por norma na ordem de 50 a 68,75% para os poços P-01, P-02, P-03 e Branco-1 com maiores alterações para os parâmetros biológicos. Os resultados levaram-nos a concluir que o meio físico da área objeto de estudo é inadequado para a instalação de cemitérios e por consequência há contaminação de água subterrânea por necrochorume.
Potencial de Utilização do RCD nas Propriedades Mecânicas de Argamassas para Revestimento
Authors: Marques Lima Jady
Published: August 2024

O volume de resíduos de construção e demolição (RCD) gerados todos os anos cresce exponencialmente, sendo a construção civil a maior responsável pela sua produção. A reciclagem desse material se apresenta como a melhor alternativa para reduzir o impacto ambiental causado. Com base nesse contexto, este estudo avalia as propriedades mecânicas da argamassa para revestimento frente à substituição parcial do agregado miúdo por RCD, de forma a contribuir com a redução da exploração de jazidas minerais para extração de recursos naturais não-renováveis e a ampliação da vida útil dos aterros. Em paralelo, mapear por modelagem fatorial a relação inerente ao fator água/cimento e concentração de RCD utilizado, de forma a entender o sinergismo causado por esse material na argamassa. Observou-se que a região compreendida entre 18 e 24% de RCD em associação com o menor fator a/c foi responsável por valores de resistência à compressão próximos a 20 MPa e que 10% de RCD e 0,60 de fator a/c foi responsável por apresentar o índice de consistência (255 mm) e de resistência à aderência (0,58 MPa) dentro dos valores pré-estabelecidos pela norma. Dessa forma, o RCD apresenta potencial para uso em argamassa para revestimentos, dadas suas propriedades físicas e mecânicas, além de representar uma alternativa sustentável, de baixo custo e ambientalmente correta.
IUCN'S RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES
Authors: Ferreira Kenia Cristina Sfredo , Salvio Geraldo Majela Moraes , Oliveira José Emílio Zanzirolani de , Bell James Bruce
Published: August 2024

This paper analyzed representatives of the class Mammalia on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of threatened species and evaluated whether the protected areas have fulfilled their function of protecting habitats. In the literature review, protected areas were found to be part of programs for the protection and recovery of threatened species. However, these areas continue to be insufficient due to the increasing destruction caused by humans, mainly the degradation of habitats upon which these organisms depend. By reviewing twelve IUCN lists containing mammals (from 1964 to 2018), the number of threatened species on each list were found to be increasing, reflecting greater knowledge of mammal species. In Brazil, eight lists were reviewed. Notably, one list contained species that were not included in the subsequent list, which may imply that protections implemented for the conservation of these animals had an effect in mitigating their extinction, and the creation of protected areas are chief among the conservation measures that resulted in such successes.
Spatial Econometrics in Agriculture: Modelling Spatial Dependencies in Data
Authors: Meena A. , Manjunatha B. , Kumar A. Anil , Sunil Jhade , Shankar S. Vishnu , Manjubala M. , D Abinayarajam , Behera Himanshu Sekhar
Published: August 2024

Spatial econometrics in agriculture focuses on modelling spatial dependencies in data, recognizing that agricultural outcomes are often influenced by geographic proximity and spatial interactions. This approach acknowledges that agricultural phenomena, such as crop yields, pest outbreaks, and soil quality, can exhibit spatial patterns that traditional econometric models may overlook. By incorporating spatial elements into econometric analysis, researchers can better understand how neighbouring regions or locations influence each other's agricultural outcomes. This is crucial for policymakers and farmers seeking to optimize resource allocation, manage environmental impacts, and enhance productivity in agriculture. Spatial econometrics provides a robust framework to uncover hidden relationships and spatial interactions within agricultural data, thereby supporting informed decision-making and sustainable agricultural practices in a spatially interconnected world.
An Analysis of Tamil Nadu Income-Based Consumption Patterns and Consumer Behaviour for Jaggery and Khandsari Sugar: A Review
Authors: N Venkatesa Palanichamy , N Balakrishnan, , M Kalpana , M Rajavel , M Divya
Published: August 2024

Purpose and Objectives: Markets such as Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode district Cooperative Jaggery Marketing Federation (CTEDCJMF), Selur Farmers Sugarcane Products Market (Farmers jaggery market), Pilikalpalayam and Chitthode jaggery market exclusively for jaggery and khandsari sugar, coconut and palm sugar.
Methodology: Snowball sampling method was used for the data collection and also producers, visiting the market also enrolled in the study. Totally 30 producers of each sugar, 60 middlemens and 120 consumers who purchased sugar through the identified marketing channels were interviewed for the study. The data collected were analyzed to determine the cost and returns for three types of sugar. The price spread at various marketing levels, trader concentration ratios, and consumer buying behavior towards alternate forms of sugar were also examined. Principal component analysis was used to identify factors influencing consumer purchases of alternate forms of sugar.
Key Findings: The results of the sample respondents showed that sample respondents of jaggery and khandsari sugar producers, majority of the sample respondents were aged between 31-40 years (33.33%) followed by 26.67 percent in the category of 20-30 years, about 23.33 per cent of the sample respondents in the producer category were aged above 50 years, followed by 16.67 per cent aged between 41-50 years. 
Implications: Hence, the demand for coconut sugar is very low, so promotional efforts should be made to popularize its health benefits among consumers.  In the case of jaggery and khandsari sugar, product modification into cube form (similar to white sugar cubes) will increase market preference and acceptability.
Development of Local Volume Table for Pinus caribbaea var. hondurensis (Senecl) in Area J4, Omo Forest Reserve, Nigeria
Authors: Oluwagbemiga Ige Peter , Emunu Silas Abigail
Published: August 2024

Volume estimation is a crucial part of every forest or plantation because it provides the quantity of timber or wood available at a given period and predicts future or expected growth of the forest. Unfortunately, local volume table are not readily available for some–economically important tree species in Nigeria. Hence, it is of paramount importance that local volume tables for economic tree species such as Pinus caribbaea in Area J4, Omo Forest reserve, Ogun state, Nigeria.
Aim: The aim of this study is to develop a local volume table for Pinus caribbaea in Area J4, Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Study Design: Simple random sampling was used for this study. Ten Temporary Sample Plots (TSP) of equal size 25m x 25m were randomly located in the selected plantation (P. caribbaea: established in 1997). All the trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10cm in each TSP were enumerated.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Pinus caribbaea plantation in Area J4, Omo forest reserve, Ogun State from November 9th to 20th, 2023.
Methodology: The total tree height, merchantable height, diameters at the top, middle, base, and dbh were measured and used to estimate stand volume. A volume table was developed using five selected models, and the best model was selected using least Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression at α0.05 with R statistical software.
Results: The results obtained in P. caribbaea plantation revealed that the dbh and height were 27.93±6.95 cm and 28.72±3.47 m, respectively, while individual tree volume was 0.83±0.57m3. The combined variable model (  was selected as the best model to develop local volume table for P. caribbaea (AIC = -54.73, BIC = -45.49 and RMSE = 0.20). The statistical metrics implied a suitable selected model which can be use for future predictions with minimal error.
Conclusion: The developed volume table for estimating the quantity of wood or timber available in the Pinus caribaea plantation at a given time. The volume model and local volume table developed are to be applied only to the Pinus caribaea plantation in the study area for continuous estimation and valuation of the species.
Medicili Bir Papa: X. Leo
Authors: Serdar Murat , Hanar Murat
Published: August 2024

Orta Çağ Avrupası, tarih sahnesinde siyasi ve sosyal olayların belki de en çok yaşandığı yerden biridir. Kavimler Göçü sonrası yangın yerine dönen bu topraklardaki siyasi istikrarsızlığın yarattığı boşluğu Papalık doldurmuştur. İtalya topraklarında feodal birliklerin oluşması ve bu birliklerin zamanla papalık ile siyasi çıkarları sebebiyle karşı karşıya gelmesi Papa bu feodal devletlere karşı büyük güçlerle ittifak kurmuş ya da onlara bazı imtiyazlar vererek ayakta tutmaya çalışmıştır. Papalığın feodal devletlerin baskısından ötürü imparatorlara vermiş olduğu imtiyazlar zamanla kendisini bunlarla da karşı karşıya getirmiştir. 14. Yüzyılda Fransa kralının müdahalesi ile papalığın Avignon’a taşınması bu kurumu Roma ve Avignon olmak üzere ikiye bölmüştür. 14. Yüzyılın son çeyreğinde papalık yeniden Roma’ya dönmüş böylece 15. yüzyılda İtalya’da güçlenen Medici Ailesi papalık ile yakın ilişkiler kurmuş ve zamanla kendi içerisinden de papalar çıkarmıştır. Giovanni de Medici Papa X. Leo unvanıyla bu ailenin papalık makamındaki ilk üyesi olmuştur. Güçlü ve müreffeh bir ailede yetişmiş olan Giovanni de Medici, bu özelliği dolayısıyla dikkatimizi çekmiş ve böyle bir aileden gelmesi papalığı esnasındaki faaliyetlerinde ne derece etkili olmuştur, şeklindeki sorular zihnimizde oluşmuştur. Biz de bu çalışmada bu hususa cevap bulmaya çalıştık.
Das private Veräußerungsgeschäft i.S.d. § 23 EStG
Authors: Meickmann Till Valentin
Published: August 2024

In den vergangenen Jahren hat der BFH Gewinne und Verluste aus der Veräußerung von Kapitalvermögen (§ 20 Abs. 2 EStG) verstärkt auch bei solchen Vorgängen angenommen, bei denen es nach hergebrachtem Begriffsverständnis mangels Rechtsträgerwechsels an einem Veräußerungsvorgang fehlt. Die Erweiterungen des Anwendungsbereichs von § 20 Abs. 2 EStG durch die Rechtsprechung hat der Gesetzgeber mit der Einfügung des § 20 Abs. 6 Satz 6 EStG jedenfalls nachträglich anerkannt. Mit dieser gesetzgeberischen Entscheidung ist die Frage aufgeworfen, ob die Rechtsprechung des BFH zu § 20 Abs. 2 EStG sich auch auf die Auslegung des § 23 EStG auswirkt. Der vorliegende Beitrag nimmt dies zum Anlass, den Begriff des privaten Veräußerungsgeschäfts i.S.d. § 23 EStG auszulegen und zu untersuchen, ob und inwieweit § 23 EStG - ggf. im Wege der Rechtsfortbildung - auch auf mit Veräußerungen vergleichbare Vorgänge angewendet werden kann.
Dynamic source inversion of theM6.5 intermediate‐depth Zumpango earthquake in central Mexico: A parallel genetic algorithm
Authors: Díaz‐Mojica John , Cruz‐Atienza Víctor M. , Madariaga Raúl , Singh Shri K. , Tago Josué , Iglesias Arturo
Published: September 2014

We introduce a method for imaging the earthquake source dynamics from the inversion of ground motion records based on a parallel genetic algorithm. The source model follows an elliptical patch approach and uses the staggered‐grid split‐node method to simulate the earthquake dynamics. A statistical analysis is used to estimate errors in both inverted and derived source parameters. Synthetic inversion tests reveal that the average rupture speed (Vr), the rupture area, and the stress drop (Δτ) may be determined with formal errors of ~30%, ~12%, and ~10%, respectively. In contrast, derived parameters such as the radiated energy (Er), the radiation efficiency (ηr), and the fracture energy (G) have larger errors, around ~70%, ~40%, and ~25%, respectively. We applied the method to theMw6.5 intermediate‐depth (62 km) normal‐faulting earthquake of 11 December 2011 in Guerrero, Mexico. Inferred values of Δτ = 29.2 ± 6.2 MPa andηr = 0.26 ± 0.1 are significantly higher and lower, respectively, than those of typical subduction thrust events. Fracture energy is large so that more than 73% of the available potential energy for the dynamic process of faulting was deposited in the focal region (i.e.,G = (14.4 ± 3.5) × 1014J), producing a slow rupture process (Vr/VS = 0.47 ± 0.09) despite the relatively high energy radiation (Er = (0.54 ± 0.31) × 1015 J) and energy‐moment ratio (Er/M0 = 5.7 × 10− 5). It is interesting to point out that such a slow and inefficient rupture along with the large stress drop in a small focal region are features also observed in both the 1994 deep Bolivian earthquake and the seismicity of the intermediate‐depth Bucaramanga nest.
Spatial and temporal patterns in conterminous United States streamflow characteristics
Authors: McCabe Gregory J. , Wolock David M.
Published: September 2014

Spatial and temporal patterns in annual and seasonal minimum, mean, and maximum daily streamflow values were examined for a set of 516 reference stream gauges located throughout the conterminous United States for the period 1951–2009. Cluster analysis was used to classify the stream gauges into 14 groups based on similarity in their temporal patterns of streamflow. The results indicated that the temporal patterns in flow metrics (1) have strong spatial coherence within each region, (2) are similar among the three annual flow metrics and the four seasonal flow metrics within each region, (3) indicate some small magnitude trends over time, and (4) are only weakly associated with well‐known climate indices. We conclude that most of the temporal variability in flow is unpredictable in terms of relations to climate indices and infer that, for the most part, future changes in flow characteristics cannot be predicted by these indices.
Whistler anisotropy instabilities as the source of banded chorus: Van Allen Probes observations and particle‐in‐cell simulations
Authors: Fu Xiangrong , Cowee Misa M. , Friedel Reinhard H. , Funsten Herbert O. , Gary S. Peter , Hospodarsky George B. , Kletzing Craig , Kurth William , Larsen Brian A. , Liu Kaijun , MacDonald Elizabeth A. , Min Kyungguk , Reeves Geoffrey D. , Skoug Ruth M. , Winske Dan
Published: September 2014

Magnetospheric banded chorus is enhanced whistler waves with frequencies ωr<Ωe, where Ωe is the electron cyclotron frequency, and a characteristic spectral gap at ωr≃Ωe/2. This paper uses spacecraft observations and two‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations in a magnetized, homogeneous, collisionless plasma to test the hypothesis that banded chorus is due to local linear growth of two branches of the whistler anisotropy instability excited by two distinct, anisotropic electron components of significantly different temperatures. The electron densities and temperatures are derived from Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron instrument measurements on the Van Allen Probes A satellite during a banded chorus event on 1 November 2012. The observations are consistent with a three‐component electron model consisting of a cold (a few tens of eV) population, a warm (a few hundred eV) anisotropic population, and a hot (a few keV) anisotropic population. The simulations use plasma and field parameters as measured from the satellite during this event except for two numbers: the anisotropies of the warm and the hot electron components are enhanced over the measured values in order to obtain relatively rapid instability growth. The simulations show that the warm component drives the quasi‐electrostatic upper band chorus and that the hot component drives the electromagnetic lower band chorus; the gap at ∼Ωe/2 is a natural consequence of the growth of two whistler modes with different properties.
InSAR velocity field across the North Anatolian Fault (eastern Turkey): Implications for the loading and release of interseismic strain accumulation
Authors: Cakir Ziyadin , Ergintav Semih , Akoğlu Ahmet M. , Çakmak Rahşan , Tatar Orhan , Meghraoui Mustapha
Published: September 2014

We use the Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS‐InSAR) technique with the European Space Agency's Envisat and ERS SAR data acquired on three neighboring descending tracks (T350, T078, and T307) to map the interseismic strain accumulation along a ~225 km long, NW‐SE trending section of the North Anatolian Fault that ruptured during the 1939, 1942, and 1943 earthquakes in eastern Turkey. We derive a line‐of‐sight velocity map of the region with a high spatial resolution and accuracy which, together with the maps of earthquake surface ruptures, shed light on the style of continental deformation and the relationships between the loading and release of interseismic strain along segmented continental strike‐slip faults. In contrast with the geometric complexities at the ground surface that appear to control rupture propagation of the 1939 event, modeling of the high‐resolution PS‐InSAR velocity field reveals a fairly linear and narrow throughgoing shear zone with an overall 20 ± 3 mm/yr slip rate above an unexpectedly shallow 7 ± 2 km locking depth. Such a shallow locking depth may result from the postseismic effects following recent earthquakes or from a simplified model that assumes a uniform degree of locking with depth on the fault. A narrow throughgoing shear zone supports the thick lithosphere model in which continental strike‐slip faults are thought to extend as discrete shear zones through the entire crust. Fault segmentation previously reported from coseismic surface ruptures is thus likely inherited from heterogeneities in the upper crust that either preexist and/or develop during coseismic rupture propagation. The geometrical complexities that apparently persist for long periods may guide the dynamic rupture propagation surviving thousands of earthquake cycles.
Land‐atmosphere coupling over North America in CRCM5
Authors: Diro G. T. , Sushama L. , Martynov A. , Jeong D. I. , Verseghy D. , Winger K.
Published: September 2014

Land‐atmosphere coupling and its impact on extreme precipitation and temperature events over North America are studied using the fifth generation of the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM5). To this effect, two 30 year long simulations, spanning the 1981–2010 period, with and without land‐atmosphere coupling, have been performed with CRCM5, driven by the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis at the boundaries. In the coupled simulation, the soil moisture interacts freely with the atmosphere at each time step, while in the uncoupled simulation, soil moisture is replaced with its climatological value computed from the coupled simulation, thus suppressing the soil moisture‐atmosphere interactions. Analyses of the coupled and uncoupled simulations, for the summer period, show strong soil moisture‐temperature coupling over the Great Plains, consistent with previous studies. The maxima of soil moisture‐precipitation coupling is more spread out and covers the semiarid regions of the western U.S. and parts of the Great Plains. However, the strength of soil moisture‐precipitation coupling is found to be generally weaker than that of soil moisture‐temperature coupling. The study clearly indicates that land‐atmosphere coupling increases the interannual variability of the seasonal mean daily maximum temperature in the Great Plains. Land‐atmosphere coupling is found to significantly modulate selected temperature extremes such as the number of hot days, frequency, and maximum duration of hot spells over the Great Plains. Results also suggest additional hot spots, where soil moisture modulates extreme events. These hot spots are located in the southeast U.S. for the hot days/hot spells and in the semiarid regions of the western U.S. for extreme wet spells. This study thus demonstrates that climatologically wet/dry regions can become hot spots of land‐atmosphere coupling when the soil moisture decreases/increases to an intermediate transitional level where evapotranspiration becomes moisture sensitive and large enough to affect the climate.
Probabilistic sequence alignment of stratigraphic records
Authors: Lin Luan , Khider Deborah , Lisiecki Lorraine E. , Lawrence Charles E.
Published: September 2014

The assessment of age uncertainty in stratigraphically aligned records is a pressing need in paleoceanographic research. The alignment of ocean sediment cores is used to develop mutually consistent age models for climate proxies and is often based on the δ18O of calcite from benthic foraminifera, which records a global ice volume and deep water temperature signal. To date, δ18O alignment has been performed by manual, qualitative comparison or by deterministic algorithms. Here we present a hidden Markov model (HMM) probabilistic algorithm to find 95% confidence bands for δ18O alignment. This model considers the probability of every possible alignment based on its fit to the δ18O data and transition probabilities for sedimentation rate changes obtained from radiocarbon‐based estimates for 37 cores. Uncertainty is assessed using a stochastic back trace recursion to sample alignments in exact proportion to their probability. We applied the algorithm to align 35 late Pleistocene records to a global benthic δ18O stack and found that the mean width of 95% confidence intervals varies between 3 and 23 kyr depending on the resolution and noisiness of the record's δ18O signal. Confidence bands within individual cores also vary greatly, ranging from ~0 to >40 kyr. These alignment uncertainty estimates will allow researchers to examine the robustness of their conclusions, including the statistical evaluation of lead‐lag relationships between events observed in different cores.
Enrichment of reticulocytes from whole blood using aqueous multiphase systems of polymers
Authors: Kumar Ashok A. , Lim Caeul , Moreno Yovany , Mace Charles R. , Syed Abeer , Van Tyne Daria , Wirth Dyann F. , Duraisingh Manoj T. , Whitesides George M.
Published: September 2014

This paper demonstrates the enrichment of reticulocytes by centrifuging whole blood through aqueous multiphase systems (AMPSs)—immiscible phases of solutions of polymers that form step‐gradients in density. The interfaces of an AMPS concentrate cells; this concentration facilitates the extraction of blood enriched for reticulocytes. AMPS enrich reticulocytes from blood from both healthy and hemochromatosis donors. Varying the osmolality and density of the phases of AMPS provides different levels of enrichment and yield of reticulocytes. A maximum enrichment of reticulocytemia of 64 ± 3% was obtained from donors with hemochromatosis. When used on peripheral blood from normal donors, AMPS can provide a higher yield of enriched reticulocytes and a higher proportion of reticulocytes expressing CD71 than differential centrifugation followed by centrifugation over Percoll. Blood enriched for reticulocytes by AMPS could be useful for research on malaria. Several species of malaria parasites show a preference to invade young erythrocytes and reticulocytes; this preference complicates in vitro cultivation of these species in human blood. Plasmodium knowlesi malaria parasites invade normal human blood enriched for reticulocytes by AMPSs at a rate 2.2 times greater (P < 0.01) than they invade unenriched blood. Parasite invasion in normal blood enriched by AMPS was 1.8 times greater (P < 0.05) than in blood enriched to a similar reticulocytemia by differential centrifugation followed by centrifugation over Percoll. The enrichment of reticulocytes that are invaded by malaria parasites demonstrates that AMPSs can provide a label‐free method to enrich cells for biological research. Am. J. Hematol. 90:31–36, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Old DAT and new data: Positive direct antiglobulin test identifies a subgroup with poor outcome among chronic lymphocytic leukemia stage A patients
Authors: Quinquenel Anne , Al Nawakil Chadi , Baran‐Marszak Fanny , Eclache Virginie , Letestu Remi , Khalloufi Mohammed , Boubaya Marouane , Le Roy Christine , Varin‐Blank Nadine , Delmer Alain , Levy Vincent , Ajchenbaum‐Cymbalista Florence
Published: September 2014

Only a minority of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients harboring a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) will develop autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). In a single institution cohort of 378 CLL patients, 56 patients (14.8%) had at least one positive DAT during the course of the disease, either at diagnosis or later. We found no relationship between the time of the first positive DAT and overall survival (OS). However, patients with a positive DAT who did not develop AIHA had the same adverse outcome as patients who developed AIHA. Of the patients who were in Binet stage A at diagnosis, those with a positive DAT had a significantly shorter OS, regardless of their IGHV mutational status, however, there was a strong association with VH1‐69. By multivariate analysis, a positive DAT was found to be an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS. Thus, DAT represents a strong adverse prognostic factor and its determination should be repeated during follow‐up. Am. J. Hematol. 90:E5–E8, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Precision medicine in chronic disease management: The multiple sclerosis BioScreen
Authors: Gourraud Pierre‐Antoine , Henry Roland G. , Cree Bruce A. C. , Crane Jason C. , Lizee Antoine , Olson Marram P. , Santaniello Adam V. , Datta Esha , Zhu Alyssa H. , Bevan Carolyn J. , Gelfand Jeffrey M. , Graves Jennifer S. , Goodin Douglas S. , Green Ari J. , von Büdingen H.‐Christian , Waubant Emmanuelle , Zamvil Scott S. , Crabtree‐Hartman Elizabeth , Nelson Sarah , Baranzini Sergio E. , Hauser Stephen L.
Published: September 2014

We present a precision medicine application developed for multiple sclerosis (MS): the MS BioScreen. This new tool addresses the challenges of dynamic management of a complex chronic disease; the interaction of clinicians and patients with such a tool illustrates the extent to which translational digital medicine—that is, the application of information technology to medicine—has the potential to radically transform medical practice. We introduce 3 key evolutionary phases in displaying data to health care providers, patients, and researchers: visualization (accessing data), contextualization (understanding the data), and actionable interpretation (real‐time use of the data to assist decision making). Together, these form the stepping stones that are expected to accelerate standardization of data across platforms, promote evidence‐based medicine, support shared decision making, and ultimately lead to improved outcomes. Ann Neurol 2014;76:633–642
Disentangling Psychological Sources of Overpricing in Anticommons Dilemmas: Strategic Incentives, Endowment Effects, and Interdependence of Outcomes
Authors: Glöckner Andreas , Tontrup Stephan , Bechtold Stefan
Published: September 2014

Anticommons are a special kind of mixed‐motive dilemma in which negative effects for society are caused by the excessive use of exclusion rights. In two fully incentivized experiments on trading goods with risky prospects, we disentangle three psychological sources that have been suggested to contribute to increased pricing in anticommons dilemmas: the effects of strategic incentives for overpricing, endowment effects, and interdependence of outcomes. Our results show that pricing of risky prospects in the anticommons is only marginally influenced by endowment status, whereas participants readily respond to incentives to overprice and to the interdependence of outcomes. Endowment effects are reduced both when strategic incentives to overprice are provided and when outcomes of subjects become interdependent. As a result, endowment effects for risky prospects are strongly reduced or even disappear completely in anticommons dilemmas. Our results render support for an interaction model instead of an additive effect model in which both incentives and endowment effects would drive up pricing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overcoming Ambiguity Aversion Through Experience
Authors: Güney Şule , Newell Ben R.
Published: September 2014

Ambiguity is often characterized with unknown probability distributions (for potential outcomes), which people avoid while making decisions. Existing literature shows that ambiguity aversion often persists even when these probability distributions are explicitly described to decision makers. We test the hypothesis that exposure to these probability distributions via sampling experience, rather than description, will lead to a reduction in ambiguity aversion. We used the classic two‐colour Ellsberg task in which the participants were asked to choose to bet on either a risky bet (i.e. probabilities were known) or (versions of) an ambiguous bet (i.e. exact probabilities were unknown). Different probability distributions, each providing subtly different information about the underlying properties of the ambiguous bet, were either experienced through sampling or described to participants prior to choice. Overall, the results indicated that people demonstrated ambiguity‐neutral attitudes when the underlying probability distributions were experienced. In contrast, when described, attitudes toward ambiguity changed as a function of the type of probability distribution. Additional analyses confirmed that decision makers were less likely to be ambiguity‐averse when their individual experiences were positive during sampling trials (i.e. observing distributions with winning being more likely or more frequent). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online Product Reviews and the Description–Experience Gap
Authors: Wulff Dirk U. , Hills Thomas T. , Hertwig Ralph
Published: September 2014

People can access information about choices in at least two ways: via summary descriptions that provide an overview of potential outcomes and their likelihood of occurrence or via sequential presentation of outcomes. Provided with the former, people make decisions from description; with the latter, they make decisions from experience. Recent investigations involving risky choices have demonstrated a robust and systematic description–experience gap. Specifically, when people make decisions from experience, rare events tend to have less impact than what they deserve according to their objective probability. Here, we show that this description–experience gap generalizes from choices involving monetary gambles to choices based on (hypothetical) online product ratings. We further show that causes that have been identified in the context of risky choice also contribute to the description–experience gap in choice based on online product ratings: reliance on relatively small samples of information and overweighting of recently sampled information (recency). We conclude with a discussion of the practical implications of our results and identify promising directions for cross‐disciplinary investigations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biomechanical characterization of myofibrillar myopathies
Authors: Winter Lilli , Goldmann Wolfgang H.
Published: September 2014

Myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs) are a group of sporadic and hereditary skeletal muscle diseases, which lead to severe physical disability and premature death. Most MFMs are caused by mutations in genes encoding desmin, plectin, VCP, filamin C, BAG3, FHL‐1, αB‐crystallin, DNAJB6, myotilin, and ZASP. Biomechanical studies on primary human myoblasts carrying desmin and plectin mutations showed increased stiffness and reduced mechanical stress tolerance i.e., higher mechanical vulnerability compared to control cells. Higher stiffness of mutant cells may lead to higher intracellular stress at physiologic stretch and shear deformation, which in turn could trigger muscle fiber degeneration.
Bone marrow stromal cell‐derived extracellular matrix promotes osteogenesis of adipose‐derived stem cells
Authors: Zhang Zhiliang , Luo Xuan , Xu Haisong , Wang Lin , Jin Xin , Chen Rui , Ren Xiaoyun , Lu Yi , Fu Mingang , Huang Yixiong , He Jiyin , Fan Zhihong
Published: September 2014

Adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) can differentiate into multiple cell lineages and favor adipogenesis rather than osteogenesis. Because the extracellular matrix (ECM) component of the stem cell niche is important in stem cell differentiation, we hypothesized that ECM produced by human bone marrow stromal cells (BM‐ECM) could enhance the osteogenic potential of ASCs during in vitro expansion. We have compared the replication and osteogenic differentiation of ASCs expanded on BM‐ECM versus tissue culture plastic (TCP) in vitro and in vivo. During the first two passages, ASC proliferation on BM‐ECM was 3.27‐fold greater than that on TCP. ASCs expanded on BM‐ECM formed more osteogenic colonies and higher expression of osteogenic markers than ASCs expanded on TCP. In nude mice, ASCs that had been expanded on BM‐ECM formed more new bone tissue than those expanded on TCP. The data indicate that BM‐ECM can be used to promote the osteogenic fate of ASCs.
Morphological characteristics and identification of islet‐like cells derived from rat adipose‐derived stem cells cocultured with pancreas adult stem cells
Authors: Hefei Wang , Yu Ren , Haiqing Wu , Xiao Wang , Jingyuan Wang , Dongjun Liu
Published: September 2014

Diabetes is a significant public health problem that can be treated with insulin therapy; however, therapies designed to cure diabetes are limited. The goal of the current study was to assess the potential for curative treatment of diabetes using adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs). To achieve this goal, the differentiation of rat ADSCs into pancreatic islet‐like cells induced by coculture with pancreatic adult stem cells (PASCs) was characterized. Differentiation of ADSCs into islet‐like cells induced by coculturing was determined morphologically, as well as by the assessment of islet cell markers using dithizone staining, immunohistochemistry, RT‐PCR, qPCR, and western blotting. The results showed that ADSCs formed islet‐like round cell masses after coculture with PASCs. These differentiated cells were shown to be positive for islet cell markers, including dithizone incorporation; PDX1, CK19 and Nestin by immunohistochemistry, and insulin, PDX1 and glucagon expression by RT‐PCR. Differentiated ADSCs induced by coculturing also expressed insulin at the mRNA and protein level, with the level of insulin mRNA expression in cocultured ADSCs being 0.05 times greater than that of PASCs (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results demonstrate that ADSCs can be induced to differentiate into islet‐like cells by coculture with PASCs; thus these cells can be used for transplantation, providing a theoretical foundation for the treatment of diabetes using this approach.
Pulmonary surfactant expression analysis—Role of cell–cell interactions and 3‐D tissue‐like architecture
Authors: Nandkumar Maya A. , Ashna U. , Thomas Lynda V. , Nair Prabha D.
Published: September 2014

Surfactant production is important in maintaining alveolar function both in vivo and in vitro, but surfactant expression is the primary property lost by alveolar Type II Pneumocytes in culture and its maintenance is a functional requirement. To develop a functional tissue‐like model, the in vivo cell–cell interactions and three dimensional architecture has to be reproduced. To this end, 3D button‐shaped synthetic gelatin vinyl acetate (GeVAc) co‐polymer scaffold was seeded with different types of lung cells. Functionality of the construct was studied under both static and dynamic conditions. The construct was characterized by Environmental Scanning Electron and fluorescent microscopy, and functionality of the system was analyzed by studying mRNA modulations of all four surfactant genes A, B, C, and D by real time‐PCR and varying culture conditions. The scaffold supports alveolar cell adhesion and maintenance of cuboidal morphology, and the alveolar‐specific property of surfactant synthesis, which would otherwise be rapidly lost in culture. This is a novel 3D system that expresses all 4 surfactants for a culture duration of 3 weeks.
Genome editing a mouse locus encoding a variant histone, H3.3B, to report on its expression in live animals
Authors: Wen Duancheng , Noh Kyung‐Min , Goldberg Aaron D. , Allis C. David , Rosenwaks Zev , Rafii Shahin , Banaszynski Laura A.
Published: September 2014

Chromatin remodeling via incorporation of histone variants plays a key role in the regulation of embryonic development. The histone variant H3.3 has been associated with a number of early events including formation of the paternal pronucleus upon fertilization. The small number of amino acid differences between H3.3 and its canonical counterparts (H3.1 and H3.2) has limited studies of the developmental significance of H3.3 deposition into chromatin due to difficulties in distinguishing the H3 isoforms. To this end, we used zinc‐finger nuclease (ZFN) mediated gene editing to introduce a small C‐terminal hemagglutinin (HA) tag to the endogenous H3.3B locus in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), along with an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and a separately translated fluorescent reporter of expression. This system will allow detection of expression driven by the reporter in cells, animals, and embryos, and will facilitate investigation of differential roles of paternal and maternal H3.3 protein during embryogenesis that would not be possible using variant‐specific antibodies. Further, the ability to monitor endogenous H3.3 protein in various cell lineages will enhance our understanding of the dynamics of this histone variant over the course of development. genesis 52:959–966, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantitative and in toto imaging in ascidians: Working toward an image‐centric systems biology of chordate morphogenesis
Authors: Veeman Michael , Reeves Wendy
Published: September 2014

Developmental biology relies heavily on microscopy to image the finely controlled cell behaviors that drive embryonic development. Most embryos are large enough that a field of view with the resolution and magnification needed to resolve single cells will not span more than a small region of the embryo. Ascidian embryos, however, are sufficiently small that they can be imaged in toto with fine subcellular detail using conventional microscopes and objectives. Unlike other model organisms with particularly small embryos, ascidians have a chordate embryonic body plan that includes a notochord, hollow dorsal neural tube, heart primordium and numerous other anatomical details conserved with the vertebrates. Here we compare the size and anatomy of ascidian embryos with those of more traditional model organisms, and relate these features to the capabilities of both conventional and exotic imaging methods. We review the emergence of Ciona and related ascidian species as model organisms for a new era of image‐based developmental systems biology. We conclude by discussing some important challenges in ascidian imaging and image analysis that remain to be solved. genesis 53:143–159, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cross‐reactivity of hepatitis C virus specific vaccine‐induced T cells at immunodominant epitopes
Authors: Kelly Christabel , Swadling Leo , Brown Anthony , Capone Stefania , Folgori Antonella , Salio Mariolina , Klenerman Paul , Barnes Eleanor
Published: September 2014

Viral diversity is a challenge to the development of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine. Following vaccination of humans with adenoviral vectors, we determined the capacity of T cells to target common viral variants at immundominant epitopes ex vivo. We identified two major variants for epitopes NS31073 and NS31446, and multiple variants for epitope NS31406 that occurred in >5% of genotype 1 and 3 sequences at a population level. Cross‐reactivity of vaccine‐induced T cells was determined using variant peptides in IFN‐γ ELISPOT assays. Vaccine‐induced T cells targeted approximately 90% of NS31073 genotype 1 sequences and 50% of NS31446 genotype 1 and 3 sequences. For NS31406, 62% of subtype‐1b sequences were targeted. Next, we assessed whether an in vitro priming system, using dendritic cells and T cells from healthy donors, could identify a variant of NS31406 that was maximally cross‐reactive. In vitro priming assays showed that of those tested the NS31406 vaccine variant was the most immunogenic. T cells primed with genotype 1 variants from subtype 1a or 1b were broadly cross‐reactive with other variants from the same subtype. We conclude that immunization with candidate HCV adenoviral vaccines generates cross‐reactive T cells at immunodominant epitopes. The degree of cross‐reactivity varies between epitopes and may be HCV‐subtype specific.
CD25+Bcl6low T follicular helper cells provide help to maturing B cells in germinal centers of human tonsil
Authors: Li Haishan , Pauza C. David
Published: September 2014

The majority of CXCR5+PD1+CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells (>90%) are CD25−Bcl6hi, while a small subpopulation (<10%) are CD25+Bcl6low but do not express FoxP3 and are not T regulatory cells. We purified T:B‐cell conjugates from tonsils and found they were enriched for the CD25+Bcl6low Tfh‐cell subpopulation. In response to IL‐2, these CD25+ Tfh cells increased expression of costimulatory molecules ICOS or OX40, upregulated transcription factor cMaf, produced cytokines IL‐21, IL‐17, and IL‐10, and raised the levels of antiapoptotic protein Bcl2. Conjugates formed with CD25+BCl6low Tfh cells included B cells expressing higher levels of activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID), memory marker CD45RO, surface IgG or IgA, and MHC class II compared to B‐cell conjugates including CD25−Bcl6hi Tfh cells. While IL‐2 suppresses early Tfh‐cell differentiation, Tfh‐cell recognition of antigen‐presenting B cells and signaling through the T‐cell receptor likely triggers expression of the high‐affinity IL‐2 receptor and responses to IL‐2 including downregulation of Bcl6. CD25 expression on Tfh cells and local production of IL‐2 in tonsil or lymph node may support B helper T‐cell function during later stages of B‐cell maturation and the development of immune memory.