bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of 2‐Chirally Substituted 3,3′‐Biquinazoline‐4,4′‐diones
Authors: Pertusati Fabrizio , Coogan Michael P.
Published: May 2014

A facile route for the synthesis of 2‐substituted biquinazolinones incorporating a chiral center into one of their lateral appendage, via condensation of 4H‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐one with 3‐amino‐2S‐substituted‐quinazolin‐4‐ones, is described. The methodology is straightforward and does not require chromatographic purification at any stage. The products are obtained in good yields as mixture of diastereoisomers, which can be enriched with the major diastereoisomer by simple recrystallization. The functional groups in the lateral chain can be easily modified allowing the synthesis of a variety of 3,3′‐biquinazoline‐4,4′‐diones. The synthesis of symmetrically 2,2′ chirally disubstituted biquinazolinones via acylation/dehydration sequence of bisanthraniloyl hydrazine is also described.
N,N,N′,N′‐Tetrabromobenzene‐1,3‐disulfonamide and Poly(N‐bromo‐N‐ethylbenzene‐1,3‐disulfonamide) as Mild and Efficient Catalysts for Solvent‐free Synthesis of N‐Cyclohexyl‐2‐aryl(alkyl)‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐amine Derivatives
Authors: Ghorbani‐Vaghei Ramin , Amiri Mostafa
Published: May 2014

N‐Cyclohexyl‐2‐aryl(alkyl)‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐amine derivatives have been synthesized in good to high yields from o‐aminopyridine, aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, and cyclohexyl isocyanide in the presence of N,N,N′,N′‐tetrabromobenzene‐1,3‐disulfonamide and poly(N‐bromo‐N‐ethylbenzene‐1,3‐disulfonamide) as catalysts, at room temperature under solvent‐free conditions.
Polymer‐Supported Tribromide as a New Solid Phase and Recyclable Catalyst for the Synthesis of 2‐(N‐Arylamino)benzothiazoles Under Solvent‐Free Microwave Irradiation Conditions
Authors: Nahakpam Lokendrajit , Chingakham Brajakishor S. , Laitonjam Warjeet S.
Published: May 2014

The solid‐phase synthesis of 2‐(N‐arylamino)benzothiazoles is achieved by reacting substituted thioureas with polymer‐supported tribromide. A series of 2‐(N‐aryl)aminobenzothiazoles is prepared in high yields under microwave irradiation. The method has several advantages such as short reaction time, good yields, and environmentally benign procedure. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered conventionally and reused at least four times without loss of activity. Therefore, it would be of great interest to synthesize some of the 2‐(N‐arylamino)benzothizoles under green chemistry conventions.
Four Partners, Three‐Step, One‐Pot Reaction for a Library of New 2‐Alkyl(dialkyl)aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones
Authors: Caruso Anna , Lancelot Jean‐Charles , El‐Kashef Hussein , Panno Antonella , Sinicropi Maria Stefania , Legay Rémi , Lesnard Aurélien , Lepailleur Alban , Rault Sylvain
Published: May 2014

A convenient four partners, three‐step, one‐pot synthesis of 2‐alkyl(dialkyl)aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones, starting from aniline derivatives, is reported. This method allowed us to prepare easily a library of quinazolinone compounds of pharmaceutical interest.
Eco‐friendly, One‐Pot Multicomponent Synthesis of Pyran Annulated Heterocyclic Scaffolds at Room Temperature Using Ammonium or Sodium Formate as Non‐toxic Catalyst
Authors: Brahmachari G. , Laskar S. , Banerjee B.
Published: May 2014

A simple, facile, and convenient practical method for one‐pot synthesis of pharmaceutically interesting diverse kind of pyran annulated heterocycles such as 4H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]coumarins, 4H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]‐α‐pyrones, 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐5‐oxo‐4H‐chromenes and benzo[h]‐4H‐chromenes in the presence of ammonium or sodium formate as catalyst via three‐component condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and C−H activated acidic compounds in aqueous ethanol has been developed mostly at room temperature. The salient features of the present method are mild reaction conditions, good to excellent yields, high atom economy, environmentally benign, easy isolation of products, no column chromatographic separation and reusability of reaction media.
Functionalized 2‐Hydrazinobenzothiazole with Isatin and Some Carbohydrates under Conventional and Ultrasound Methods and Their Biological Activities
Authors: Badahdah Khadija O. , Abdel Hamid Hamida M. , Noureddin Sawsan A.
Published: May 2014

Several chemical reactions were carried out on 3‐(benzothiazol‐2‐yl‐hydrazono)‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one (2). 3‐(Benzothiazol‐2‐yl‐hydrazono)‐1‐alkyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one 3a, 3b, 3c have been achieved. Reaction of compound 2 with ethyl bromoacetate in the presence of K2CO3 resulted the uncyclized product 4. Reaction of compound 2 with benzoyl chloride afforded dibenzoyl derivative 5. Compound 2 was smoothly acetylated by acetic anhydride in pyridine to give diacetyl derivative 6b. Moreover, when compound 4 reacted with methyl hydrazine, it yielded dihydrazide derivative 7, whereas the hydrazinolysis of this compound with hydrazine hydrate gave the monohydrazide derivative 8. {N‐(Benzothiazol‐2‐yl‐N′‐(3‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,2,4‐triaza‐fluoren‐9‐ylidene)hydrazino]‐acetic acid ethyl ester (9) was prepared by ring closure of compound 8 by the action of glacial acetic acid. In addition, the reaction of 2‐hydrazinobenzothiazole (1) with d‐glucose and d‐arabinose in the presence of acetic acid yielded the hydrazones 10a,10b, respectively. Acetylation of compound 10b gave compound 11b. On the other hand, compound 13 was obtained by the reaction of compound 1 with gama‐d‐galactolactone (12). Acetylation of compound 13 with acetic anhydride in pyridin gave the corresponding N1‐acetyl‐N2‐(benzothiazolyl)‐2‐yl)‐2,3,4,5,6‐penta‐O‐acetyl‐d‐galacto‐hydrazide (14). Better yields and shorter reaction times were achieved using ultrasound irradiation. The structural investigation of the new compounds is based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Some selected derivatives were studied for their antimicrobial and antiviral activities.
Speciation analysis of orthophosphate and myo‐inositol hexakisphosphate in soil‐ and plant‐related samples by high‐performance ion chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Rugova Ariana , Puschenreiter Markus , Santner Jakob , Fischer Lisa , Neubauer Stefan , Koellensperger Gunda , Hann Stephan
Published: May 2014

A novel method based on high‐performance ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry employing strong anion exchange chromatography with HNO3 gradient elution for simultaneous analysis of orthophosphate and myo‐inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) in soil solution and plant extracts is presented. As inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of phosphorus at m/z 31 is hampered by N‐based interferences, 31P was measured as 31P16O+ at m/z 47 employing dynamic reaction cell technique with O2 as reaction gas. Orthophosphate and IP6 were separated within a total chromatographic run‐time of 12 min revealing a limit of detection of 0.3 μmol/L. The coefficients of determination obtained in a working range of 1–100 and 1–30 μmol/L were 0.9991 for orthophosphate and 0.9968 for IP6, respectively. The method was successfully applied to extracts from three different soils as well as root and shoot extracts of Brassica napus L. The precision of three independently prepared soil extracts was in the range of 4–10% relative standard deviation for PO43− and 3–8% relative standard deviation for IP6. Soil adsorption/desorption kinetics for IP6/orthophosphate were performed for investigating the sorption behavior of the two P species in the experimental soils.
Transient seepage analysis in zoned anisotropic soils based on the scaled boundary finite‐element method
Authors: Bazyar Mohammad Hossein , Talebi Abbas
Published: May 2014

The scaled boundary finite‐element method, a semi‐analytical computational scheme primarily developed for dynamic stiffness of unbounded domains, is applied to the analysis of unsteady seepage flow problems. This method is based on the finite‐element technology and gains the advantages of the boundary element method as well. Only boundary of the domain is discretized, no fundamental solution is required and singularity problems can be modeled rigorously. Anisotropic and non‐homogeneous materials satisfying similarity are modeled with no additional efforts. In this study, firstly, formulation of the method for the transient seepage flow problems is derived followed by its solution procedures. The accuracy, simplicity and applicability of the method are demonstrated via four numerical examples of transient seepage flow – three of them are available in the literature. Homogenous, non‐homogenous, isotropic and anisotropic material properties are considered to show the versatility of the technique. Excellent agreement with the finite‐element method is observed. The method out‐performs the finite‐element method in modeling singularity points. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors Influencing Disability due to Low Back Pain Using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale
Authors: Kim Gyoung‐mo , Yi Chung‐hwi , Cynn Heon‐seock
Published: May 2014

Objectives

The aim of this research was to compare the difference in disability caused by back pain using scores from the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QUE) according to gender, acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) groups, specific and nonspecific LBP groups and to identify the factors influencing the degree of LBP disability.

Methods

One hundred and thirty‐three patients with LBP participated in this study. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of ODQ and QUE were used to compare the differences between men and women, acute and chronic and specific and nonspecific LBP groups. We identified the factors influencing the disability of LBP using a stepwise multiple regression.

Results

In comparison with the nonspecific LBP group, the VAS, ODQ and QUE scores were significantly higher and the pain duration was significantly longer in the specific LBP group (P < 0.05). A multiple regression equation with VAS and LBP classification explained the 45.4% variance in ODQ and an equation with VAS, LBP classification, pain duration and gender explained 31.1% of the variance in QUE.

Conclusions

The degree of disability from back pain assessed using the ODQ score was influenced by a pain severity and LBP type. Also, QUE score was influenced by a pain severity, LBP type, pain duration and gender. To assess the disability caused by back pain accurately using the ODQ and QUE, various factors affecting the scores of the questionnaire must be considered. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multilevel mixed effects parametric survival models using adaptive Gauss–Hermite quadrature with application to recurrent events and individual participant data meta‐analysis
Authors: Crowther Michael J. , Look Maxime P. , Riley Richard D.
Published: May 2014

Multilevel mixed effects survival models are used in the analysis of clustered survival data, such as repeated events, multicenter clinical trials, and individual participant data (IPD) meta‐analyses, to investigate heterogeneity in baseline risk and covariate effects. In this paper, we extend parametric frailty models including the exponential, Weibull and Gompertz proportional hazards (PH) models and the log logistic, log normal, and generalized gamma accelerated failure time models to allow any number of normally distributed random effects. Furthermore, we extend the flexible parametric survival model of Royston and Parmar, modeled on the log‐cumulative hazard scale using restricted cubic splines, to include random effects while also allowing for non‐PH (time‐dependent effects). Maximum likelihood is used to estimate the models utilizing adaptive or nonadaptive Gauss–Hermite quadrature. The methods are evaluated through simulation studies representing clinically plausible scenarios of a multicenter trial and IPD meta‐analysis, showing good performance of the estimation method. The flexible parametric mixed effects model is illustrated using a dataset of patients with kidney disease and repeated times to infection and an IPD meta‐analysis of prognostic factor studies in patients with breast cancer. User‐friendly Stata software is provided to implement the methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytic modelling and optimization of slip synchronous permanent magnet wind turbine generator topologies
Authors: Stander Johan N. , Kamper Maarten J. , Venter Gerhard
Published: May 2014

The modular slip‐synchronous permanent magnet generator (SSPMG) is viewed as an induction‐synchronous machine pair that is electromagnetically decoupled by a free‐rotating rotor that in turn houses two different sets of permanent magnets. This machine pair combines the advantages of both conventional induction and permanent magnet synchronous machines. It therefore has the potential to realize a new path in reliable, robust and cost‐effective wind turbine drivetrains. However, which electromagnetic SSPMG topology is best and how does it compare with conventional drivetrain designs for various capacities? To date, the most published SSPMG advances are specific to winding design, torque quality and performance optimization in the small capacity range. This paper presents optimized analytic electrical designs of modular, radially and axially separable, radial flux SSPMG topologies of capacities ranging from 100 kW to 5 MW. Designs are based on lumped analytic models and are optimized for minimum specific active mass (mass/torque). A rated efficiency of 95 % and an inductive power factor of 0.95 are applied to all designs. The analytic models are validated with transient two‐dimensional finite element analysis results. The best SSPMG topologies are determined and compared with conventional drivetrain designs. The axially separable topology seems to be the best SSPMG design. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Free-surface jet flow of a shear-thinning power-law fluid near the channel exit
Authors: Khayat Roger E.
Published: May 2014

The jet flow of a shear-thinning power-law fluid is examined theoretically as it emerges from a channel at moderate Reynolds number. Poiseuille flow conditions are assumed to prevail far upstream from the exit. The problem is solved using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. A similarity solution is obtained in the inner layer near the free surface, with the outer layer extending to the jet centreline. An inner thin viscous sublayer is introduced to smooth out the singularity in viscosity at the free surface, allowing the inner algebraically decaying solutions to be matched smoothly with the solution near the free surface. A Newtonian jet is found to contract more than a shear-thinning jet. While both the inner-layer thickness and the free-surface height are $O(\mathit{Re}^{-1/3})$, and grow with downstream distance, the sublayer thickness is smaller, $O(\mathit{Re}^{-(1+n)/3})$, growing with distance for $n < 0.5$, and decaying for $n > 0.5$. The relaxation downstream distance for the jet is found to grow logarithmically with $\mathit{Re}$.
Aerobic exercise and not a diet supplemented with jussara açaí (Euterpe edulisMartius) alters hepatic oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in ApoE-deficient mice
Authors: de Castro Cynthia Aparecida , Natali Antonio José , Cardoso Luciana Marques , Ferreira-Machado Alessandra Barbosa , Novello Alexandre Azevedo , da Silva Karina Ana , Tafuri Natalia Filard , da Matta Sergio Luis Pinto , Pedrosa Maria Lucia , Peluzio Maria do Carmo Gouveia
Published: May 2014

The pulp of jussara açaí (Euterpe edulisMartius) fruit is rich in anthocyanins that exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects similar to those exerted by aerobic exercise. In the present study, we investigated the effects of jussara açaí fruit pulp consumption, either alone or in combination with aerobic exercise, on the hepatic oxidative and inflammatory status of ApoE-deficient (ApoE− / −) mice. Male mice were divided into four groups (control (C), control plus açaí, exercise plus açaí (EXA) and exercise (EX)) and fed the AIN-93M diet or the AIN-93M diet formulated to contain 2 % freeze-dried açaí pulp. Mice in the EX and EXA groups were subjected to a progressive running programme (5 d/week, 60 min/d, 16 m/min) for 12 weeks. Mice that were made to exercise exhibited reduced (40·85 %;P< 0·05) hepatic superoxide dismutase activity when compared with the C mice, independent of the açaí diet. Mice in the EX group exhibited a lower (42 %;P< 0·05) mRNA expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the liver compared with the C mice. Mice in the EXA and EX groups had lower percentages of hepatic lipid droplets (70 % and 56 %, respectively;P< 0·05) when compared with the C mice. Mice in the EX group had smaller (58 %;P< 0·05) area of lesions in the aorta when compared with the C mice. Serum lipid profile was not affected (P>0·05). In conclusion, aerobic exercise training rather than açaí fruit pulp consumption or a combination of both enhances the hepatic oxidative and inflammatory status ofApoE− / −mice.
Democracy, Despots and Wolves: On the Dangers of Zoopolis's Animal Citizen
Authors: Planinc Emma
Published: May 2014

Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka have recently argued in Zoopolis (2011) that domesticated animals ought to become our democratic co-citizens. In this paper I claim that the acceptance of animals into our democratic negotiations—championed in Zoopolis as a broadening of justice and inclusion—also has the potential to render our political institutions dangerously unjust. Through an engagement with the work of Plato and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, I argue that we must be wary of a democracy's susceptibility to the emergence of unbridled or tyrannical liberty when expanding the criteria of freedom and agency to accommodate animals, or the animalistic, in the political sphere.
Viewpoint: effective stakeholder communication in agriculture: together we stand, divided we fall!
Authors: AARTS H. F. M. , HUMPHREYS J. , LE GALL A.
Published: May 2014

Substantial improvements of agricultural systems are necessary to meet the future requirements of humanity. However, current agricultural knowledge and information systems are generally not well suited to meet the necessary improvements in productivity and sustainability. For more effective application of research output, research producers and research consumers should not be considered as separate individuals in the knowledge chain but as collaborating partners creating synergy. The current paper investigates the relationships between scientists and stakeholders and identifies approaches to increase the effectiveness of their communication. On-farm research has proven to be an effective means of improving exploitation of research output at farm level because it connects all relevant partners in the process. Furthermore, pilot farms can act as an effective platform for communication and dissemination. Regional networks of pilot farms should be established and connected across regions.
Use of tomato and cucumber waste fruits in goat diets: effects on rumen fermentation and microbial communities in batch and continuous cultures
Authors: SOTO E. C. , KHELIL H. , CARRO M. D. , YAÑEZ-RUIZ D. R. , MOLINA-ALCAIDE E.
Published: May 2014

Twoin vitroexperiments were conducted to analyse the effects of replacing dietary barley grain with wastes of tomato and cucumber fruits and a 1 : 1 tomato : cucumber mixture on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial abundance. The control (CON) substrate contained 250 g/kg of barley grain on a dry matter (DM) basis, and another 15 substrates were formulated by replacing 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 g of barley grain/kg with the same amount (DM basis) of tomato or cucumber fruits or 1 : 1 tomato : cucumber mixture. In Expt 1, all substrates were incubated in batch cultures with rumen micro-organisms from goats for 24 h. Increasing amounts of tomato, cucumber and the mixture of both fruits in the substrate increased final pH and gas production, without changes in final ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations, substrate degradability and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, indicating that there were no detrimental effects of any waste fruits on rumen fermentation. Therefore, in Expt 2 the substrates including 250 g of waste fruits (T250, C250 and M250 for tomato, cucumber and the mixture of both fruits, respectively) and the CON substrate were incubated in single-flow continuous-culture fermenters for 8 days. Total VFA production did not differ among substrates, but there were differences in VFA profile. Molar proportions of propionate, isobutyrate and isovalerate were lower and acetate : propionate ratio was greater for T250 compared with CON substrate. Fermentation of substrates containing cucumber (C250 and M250) resulted in lower proportions of acetate, isobutyrate and isovalerate and acetate : propionate ratio, but greater butyrate proportions than the CON substrate. Carbohydrate degradability and microbial N synthesis tended to be lower for substrates containing cucumber than for the CON substrate, but there were no differences between CON and T250 substrates. Abundance of total bacteria,Fibrobacter succinogenesandRuminococcus flavefaciens, fungi, methanogenic archaea and protozoa were similar in fermenters fed T250 and CON substrates, but fermenters fed C250 and M250 substrates had lower abundances ofR. flavefaciens, fungi and protozoa than those fed the CON substrate. Results indicated that tomato fruits could replace dietary barley grain up to 250 g/kg of substrate DM without noticeable effects on rumen fermentation and microbial populations, but the inclusion of cucumber fruits at 250 g/kg of substrate DM negatively affected some microbial populations as it tended to reduce microbial N synthesis and changed the VFA profile. More studies are needed to identify the dietary inclusion level of cucumber which produces no detrimental effects on rumen fermentation and microbial growth.
FREQUENT RESIDENTIAL RELOCATIONS CUMULATIVELY ACCELERATE MENARCHEAL TIMING IN A SAMPLE OF ENGLISH ADOLESCENT GIRLS
Authors: CLUTTERBUCK STEPHANIE , ADAMS JEAN , NETTLE DANIEL
Published: May 2014

Childhood adversity has been associated with accelerated menarcheal and reproductive timing in females. The relationship between family- and neighbourhood-level measures of childhood adversity, menarcheal timing and intended reproductive timing was investigated in a sample of 354 English adolescent girls. The data were collected from March to June 2012. In total 90 of the participants had reached menarche. Frequent residential relocations increased the likelihood of reaching menarche (HR 1.11; 95%CI 1.02–1.22). Girls who had moved house one to four times or five or more times, were respectively, more than twice (HR 2.14; 95%CI 1.23–3.73) and more than three times (HR 3.20; 95%CI 1.44–7.10) as likely to have reached menarche than girls who had never moved house. Frequent residential relocations were associated with stepfather co-residence, increased number of half/stepsiblings and reduced feelings of family support. Menarche was also accelerated by the presence of half/stepsisters. There was no relationship between menarcheal timing and intended reproductive timing. Frequent residential relocations may indicate instability in a young person's life, which is often outside of their control. Extending childhood adversity measures to include residential relocations could be important in better understanding the role early life events play in accelerating menarche.
The effect of radiofrequency radiation generated by a Global System for Mobile Communications source on cochlear development in a rat model
Authors: Seckin E , Suren Basar F , Atmaca S , Kaymaz F F , Suzer A , Akar A , Sunan E , Koyuncu M
Published: May 2014

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the effect of radiofrequency radiation generated by 900 and 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications sources on cochlear development in the rat model.

Methods:

Eight pregnant albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. The latter two groups of pregnant rats were exposed to radiofrequency radiation for 1 hour per day starting on the 12th day of pregnancy until delivery. The rats in the control, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz groups gave birth to 24, 31 and 26 newborn rats respectively. Newborn rats in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz groups were exposed to radiofrequency radiation for 1 hour per day for 21 days after delivery. Hearing evaluations of newborn rats were carried out using distortion product otoacoustic emissions testing. Eight newborn rats were randomly selected from each group for electron microscopic evaluation.

Results:

Distortion product otoacoustic emission tests revealed no significant difference among the groups, but electron microscopic evaluation revealed significant differences among the groups with regard to the number of normal, apoptotic and necrotic cells.

Conclusion:

The findings indicated cellular structural damage in the cochlea caused by radiofrequency radiation exposure during cochlear development in the rat model.
Acute phase response in zebrafish embryo/larva with special emphasis on LPS-induced changes in expression pattern of acute phase protein genes
Authors: Sun Weiwei , Li Zongyao , Zhang Shicui
Published: May 2014

Acute phase response (APR) in developing embryos/larvae remains poorly studied in fish, and information regarding the expression and role of acute phase proteins (APPs) in developing embryos/larvae is rather limited in teleosts. In this study we investigated the APR in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos/larvae challenged with LPS by examining the expression of APP genes encoding CRP, SAA, LECT2, HAMP and HP and APP inducer genes encoding IL-1β and TNF-α. Expression of all the seven genes was up-regulated in embryos/larvae after challenge with LPS as revealed by q-RT-PCR. Whole-mountin situhybridization (WISH) showed that all the genes displayed strong maternal expression in the cleavage and blastula stages, and ubiquitous expression in the gastrula and segmentation stage embryos, and then they were expressed differently in specific tissues in later developmental stages. Interestingly, challenge with LPS resulted inde novoexpression of the SAA gene in the yolk sac and intestine, the LECT2 gene in the yolk sac, and the IL-1β gene in the yolk sac and the dispersed neutrophils of caudal vein, and visible enhanced expression of the LECT2 gene in the yolk sac. These are the first such data reported in teleosts, showing that LPS challenge is able to modify the expression patterns of APP and APP inducer genes. Altogether, these data suggest that zebrafish embryos/larvae are able to respond to acute infection though their immune system remains in a developing and immature state.
The effects of a tidal-mixing front on the distribution of larval fish habitats in a semi-enclosed sea during winter
Authors: Inda-Díaz Emilio A. , Sánchez-Velasco Laura , Lavín Miguel F.
Published: May 2014

We examined the effect of a tidal-mixing front on the three-dimensional distribution of larval fish habitats (LFHs) in the Midriff Archipelago Region in the Gulf of California during winter. Zooplankton and environmental variables were sampled from 0 to 200 m in 50 m strata. Four LFHs were defined in association with the front, two on the northern side and two on the southern side. The northern LFHs were: (1) the Mainland Shelf Habitat, located from the surface to 100 m depth on the north-east mainland shelf, characterized mainly by the presence of Citharichtys fragilis; and (2) the Wide Distribution Habitat, extending from north-west to south across the front from the surface to 200 m depth, dominated by the ubiquitous Engraulis mordax. The southern LFHs were: (3) the Eddy Zone Habitat, defined nearly on an anticyclonic eddy, with the highest larval abundance and richness from the surface to 100 m depth, dominated by Leuroglossus stilbius; and (4) the Southern Gulf Habitat, associated with low temperature waters from the southern Gulf of California, dominated by southern-gulf species (e.g. Scomber japonicus and Sardinops sagax). Despite the weak stratification and low thermal contrast (~1.5°C) across the south front compared to summer (~3°C), our results demonstrate that the frontal zone may influence the formation of planktonic habitats even during generally homogeneous periods, which may also be relevant in other regions of the world.
Traditional stewardship and conservation in the Game Management Areas of Nkala and Namwala, Zambia
Authors: Mkanda Francis X. , Mwakifwamba Austin , Simpamba Twakundine
Published: May 2014

We investigated the effects of socio-economic, institutional, and governance factors on two adjacent Game Management Areas in Zambia: Nkala, which is relatively pristine, and Namwala, which is degraded. Monetary benefits from the Nkala Game Management Area were almost double those from Namwala, which may have been sufficient incentive for the communities of Nkala not to occupy the area or conduct activities that were detrimental to wildlife conservation. There was no such incentive in Namwala, where traditional leaders may have considered settlement and cultivation a better alternative to wildlife conservation. The degradation of the area is largely attributable to weak governance amongst the traditional leadership, which allowed unauthorized migrants to settle and cultivate regardless of the effects of their activities. In contrast, there was good governance in Nkala, where the local chiefs did not allow settlement within the Game Management Area. We hope our findings will be useful in informing the management of Game Management Areas and other wildlife-conservation areas.
Population status of Heptner's markhorCapra falconeri heptneriin Tajikistan: challenges for conservation
Authors: Michel Stefan , Rosen Michel Tatjana , Saidov Abdusattor , Karimov Khalil , Alidodov Munavvar , Kholmatov Ismoil
Published: May 2014

Heptner's markhorCapra falconeri heptneriis an Endangered wild goat occurring in disjunct populations in southern Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Surveys to determine the total population in Tajikistan were conducted during February–April 2012. A total of 1,018 animals were observed. In most areas, which include state protected areas and family- and community-based conservancies, markhor populations are stable or increasing. Threats include illegal hunting, habitat degradation, competition with livestock and disease transmission. To motivate conservancies economically to protect markhor populations, trophy hunting should be permitted to accommodate the sustainable use of markhor, with revenues distributed in a transparent and equitably shared manner.
Conservation status of the unique population of Wenchengia alternifolia, an enigmatic plant endemic to Hainan Island, China
Authors: Li Bo , Zhang Zhiyong , Zhang Dianxiang
Published: May 2014

Wenchengia alternifolia (Lamiaceae) is a plant species endemic to Hainan Island, China. Since the 1930s it was known from only four collections and was believed to be extinct until a remnant population was rediscovered in 2010. We conducted further field surveys during 2010–2012 but located only one population, with 66 individuals. W. alternifolia is restricted to the c. 1,500 m2 Shuangximu Valley, in a harsh microenvironment surrounded by plantations. As the population comprises < 50 mature individuals, we propose that W. alternifolia be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, based on criterion D. We recommend that the remnant population and its habitat need urgent protection and monitoring and that ex situ conservation, for future reintroduction, should be implemented.
Adaptive motion control of arm rehabilitation robot based on impedance identification
Authors: Song Aiguo , Pan Lizheng , Xu Guozheng , Li Huijun
Published: May 2014

There is increasing interest in using rehabilitation robots to assist post-stroke patients during rehabilitation therapy. The motion control of the robot plays an important role in the process of functional recovery training. Due to the change of the arm impedance of the post-stroke patient in the passive recovery training, the conventional motion control based on a proportional-integral (PI) controller is difficult to produce smooth movement of the robot to track the designed trajectory set by the rehabilitation therapist. In this paper, we model the dynamics of post-stroke patient arm as an impedance model, and propose an adaptive control scheme, which consists of an adaptive PI control algorithm and an adaptive damping control algorithm, to control the rehabilitation robot moving along predefined trajectories stably and smoothly. An equivalent two-port circuit of the rehabilitation robot and human arm is built, and the passivity theory of circuits is used to analyze the stability and smoothness performance of the robot. A slide Least Mean Square with adaptive window (SLMS-AW) method is presented for on-line estimation of the parameters of the arm impedance model, which is used for adjusting the gains of the PI-damping controller. In this paper, the Barrett WAM Arm manipulator is used as the main hardware platform for the functional recovery training of the post-stroke patient. Passive recovery training has been implemented on the WAM Arm, and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of the proposed adaptive control strategies.
Rural courts, notaries and credit in the county of Empúries, 1290–1348
Authors: SOLDEVILA I TEMPORAL XAVIER
Published: May 2014

This article studies the role performed by local jurisdictional courts in private credit relations in medieval Catalonia. These courts and their officers were subject to the control of local feudal lords. The courts acted as a guarantor of credit contracts agreed before them in the form of ‘court obligations’, and also carried out procedures related to the enforcement of outstanding debts: prorogations; seizures and auction of goods; and imprisonment. The study focuses on the plain of the Lower Ter, on the northeast Catalan coast. It concludes that although the jurisdictional framework provided by the courts involved a number of different great lords, including the king himself, the juridical mechanisms and collaboration between different courts functioned well enough to sustain a dynamic, complex and widespread credit system.
Artin's primitive root conjecture and a problem of Rohrlich
Authors: AMBROSE CHRISTOPHER
Published: May 2014

Let$\mathbb{K}$be a number field, Γ a finitely generated subgroup of$\mathbb{K}$*, for instance the unit group of$\mathbb{K}$, and κ>0. For an ideal$\mathfrak{a}$of$\mathbb{K}$let indΓ($\mathfrak{a}$]>) denote the multiplicative index of the reduction of Γ in <![CDATA[$(\mathcal{O}_\mathbb{K}/\mathfrak{a})$* (whenever it makes sense). For a prime ideal$\mathfrak{p}$of$\mathbb{K}$and a positive integer γ let$\mathcal{I}_\gamma^\kappa(\mathfrak{p})$be the average of${ind}_{\langle a_1,\dots,a_\gamma\rangle}(\mathfrak{p})^\kappa$over all tupels$(a_1,\dots,a_\gamma)\in{(\mathcal{O}_\mathbb{K}/\mathfrak{p})^*}^\gamma$. Motivated by a problem of Rohrlich we prove, partly conditionally on fairly standard hypotheses, lower bounds for$\sum_{\mathcal{N}{\mathfrak{a}\leq x}{ind}_{\Gamma}({\mathfrak{a})^\kappa$and asymptotic formulae for$\sum_{\mathcal{N}\mathfrak{p} \leq x} {\mathcal{I}_{\gamma}^\kappa({\mathfrak{p})$.
Making the World in Atlanta's Image: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Morris Abram, and the Legislative History of the United Nations Race Convention
Authors: Lovelace H. Timothy
Published: May 2014

Atlanta's human rights community was buzzing, because the United Nations (U.N.) was coming to town. On Sunday, January 19, 1964, the front page of theAtlanta Daily World, the city's oldest black newspaper and the South's only black daily, announced, “United Nations Rights Panel to Visit Atlanta.” The U.N. Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (Sub-Commission), theDaily Worldexplained, was a fourteen nation “body that surveys the worldwide problems of discrimination.” The Sub-Commission had been invited to Atlanta by Morris Abram, a former Atlanta attorney and the lone United States member of the Sub-Commission, to study first-hand the city's well-publicized, efforts to improve in race relations. Sunday morning'sDaily Worldalso noted that the U.N. delegation “composed of experts, mostly lawyers and jurists” was in the midst of drafting a global treaty designed to end racial discrimination, and the local paper highlighted Abram's role as the primary drafter of the race accord. “Mr. Abram, as the U.S. expert on the subcommission has proposed a sweeping eight-point treaty,” the article reported. According to theDaily World, the pending race treaty—the treaty that would ultimately become the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD or Convention)—would address “segregation, hate groups and discrimination in public accommodations.”
Race versus Religion in the Making of the International Convention Against Racial Discrimination, 1965
Authors: Friesel Ofra
Published: May 2014

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965 (CERD), was negotiated at the United Nations (UN) during the years 1962–1965. At that period, the UN was an organization so highly politicized and split that it was almost paralyzed, operatively speaking. Human rights codification was a major field whose advancement came to a standstill as a result of the lack of cooperation between UN member-states. Nevertheless, the UN managed to unite around the denunciation of racial discrimination, and unanimously adopted CERD on December 21, 1965. Furthermore, the period of time that elapsed between the presentation of the initiative and the vote on the final version of the treaty was only 3 years; a rather short period of time, UN experience considered.
“Evolution Revolution” and the Journey from African Colonial Subject to French Citizen
Authors: Semley Lorelle D.
Published: May 2014

Soon after Marc Kojo Tovalou Houénou hurried from his tour of the United States to the French West African colony of Dahomey in 1925 to be at his dying father's side, the French governor there launched an inquiry to find out whether Houénou was the French citizen he claimed to be. Houénou had been born in Dahomey in 1887, but had spent most of his life studying and residing in France. Alhough he had only returned to Dahomey briefly in 1921, with his father's death in 1925, Houénou wanted to claim what he saw as his rightful position aschef de familleor head of his extended family in Dahomey. With this title, Houénou would have gained administrative control over his father's expansive wealth in land and property in several towns in Dahomey, and would have been the official representative for his family, especially in interactions with the French colonial government. However, Houénou was already emerging as a thorn in the side of French colonial authorities because of a series of critical articles he had written in Paris about French colonialism. Therefore, when Governor Gaston Fourn found that Houénou had, in 1915, obtained his French citizenship rights, literally permission “to enjoy (jouir) the rights of French citizen,” why was the governor relieved?
Hantavirus infection in rodents and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Shaanxi province, China, 1984–2012
Authors: YU P. B. , TIAN H. Y. , MA C. F. , MA C. A. , WEI J. , LU X. L. , WANG Z. , ZHOU S. , LI S. , DONG J. H. , XU J. R. , XU B. , WANG J. J.
Published: May 2014

The transmission of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is deeply influenced by the reservoir and hantavirus prevalence rate. In this study, a surveillance on human HFRS cases, relative rodent abundance, and hantavirus infection prevalence was conducted in Shaanxi province, China, during 1984–2012. A generalized linear model with Poisson-distributed residuals and a log link was used to quantify the relationship between reservoir, virus and HFRS cases. The result indicated that there was a significant association of HFRS incidence with relative rodent density and the prevalence rate. This research provides evidence that the changes of infection prevalence in the reservoir could lead directly to the emergence of a new epidemic. It was concluded that the measurement of a number of these variables could be used in disease surveillance to give useful advance warning of potential disease epidemics.
The Intriguing Ultrastructure of Lipid Body Organelles Within Activated Macrophages
Authors: Dias Felipe F. , Zarantonello Victor C. , Parreira Gleydes G. , Chiarini-Garcia Hélio , Melo Rossana C. N.
Published: May 2014

Macrophages are widely distributed immune system cells with essential functions in tissue homeostasis, apoptotic cell clearance, and first defense in infections. A distinguishing feature of activated macrophages participating in different situations such as inflammatory and metabolic diseases is the presence of increased numbers of lipid-rich organelles, termed lipid bodies (LBs) or lipid droplets, in their cytoplasm. LBs are considered structural markers of activated macrophages and are involved in different functions such as lipid metabolism, intracellular trafficking, and synthesis of inflammatory mediators. In this review, we revisit the distinct morphology of LB organelles actively formed within macrophages in response to infections and cell clearance, taking into account new insights provided by ultrastructural studies. We also discuss the LB interactions within macrophages, revealed by transmission electron microscopy, with a focus on the remarkable LB–phagosome association and discuss potential links between structural aspects and function.
Genetic diversity in East African finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) landraces based on SSR markers and some qualitative traits
Authors: Manyasa E. O. , Tongoona P. , Shanahan P. , Mgonja M. A. , de Villiers S.
Published: May 2014

In this study, genetic diversity in 340 finger millet accessions from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and 15 minicore accessions was assessed using 23 single-sequence repeat markers and five qualitative traits. Nineteen markers were polymorphic with a mean polymorphic information content value of 0.606 and a range of 0.035–0.889, with allele size ranging from 148 to 478. A total of 195 alleles were detected (range of 3–23 and average of 10.3 alleles per locus), with 57.7% being rare and 17.4% being private. Differentiation between the accessions of the three countries was weak, with most of the genetic diversity being explained by variability within the countries and subregions than by that among the countries and subregions. The highest genetic diversity was observed in the Kenyan accessions (0.638 ± 0.283) and the least in the Ugandan accessions (0.583 ± 0.264). The highest differentiation based on Wright's fixation index was observed between the Ugandan and Tanzanian accessions (FST= 0.117; P< 0.001). There was no association between the morphological traits assessed and the genetic classes observed. The low variability between the countries could be attributed to a shared gene pool, as the crop originated from the East African region. Farmers' selection for adaptation and end use could have contributed to the high diversity within the countries. Concerted efforts need to be made to characterize the large germplasm stocks in East Africa for their effective conservation and utilization. The lack of representation of accessions from the three countries in all global minicore diversity clusters points to the need to explore the East African germplasm to identify the diversity not captured earlier to be included in the global repository.
The narratives of geographical indications
Authors: Ferrari Matteo
Published: May 2014

The protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) is often conceived as a way to preserve cultural creativity embedded in a specific place. But can GIs be understood as a mode of cultural creativity in their own right? This paper tries to answer this question through a case-study which compares three specific GIs for wines in three different countries (Australia, Italy and Canada). By using an interpretative analysis based on narratives, the paper highlights how GIs are the protagonist of legal narratives in terms of cultural creativity and, at one and the same time, something extrinsic and intrinsic to a given social and productive environment, contributing to defining that same notion of place.
Religion and culture in the discourse of the European Court of Human Rights: the risks of stereotyping and naturalising
Authors: Peroni Lourdes
Published: May 2014

This paper critically examines the ways in which the European Court of Human Rights represents applicants' religious and cultural practices in its legal discourse. Borrowing tools from critical discourse analysis and incorporating insights from the anti-essentialist critique, the paper suggests that the Court has most problematically depicted the practices of Muslim women, Sikhs and Roma Gypsies. The analysis reveals that, by means of a reifying language, the Court oftentimes equates these groups' practices with negative stereotypes or posits them as the group's ‘paradigmatic’ practice / way of life. The thrust of the argument is that these sorts of representation are problematic because of the exclusionary and inegalitarian dangers they carry both for the applicants and for their groups. In negatively stereotyping applicants' practices and in privileging certain group practices over others, these types of assessment underestimate what is at stake for the applicants and potentially exclude them from protection. Moreover, these types of reasoning risk sustaining hierarchies across and within groups. The paper concludes by sketching out an approach capable of mitigating stereotyping and essentialising risks.
The Egyptian revolution in and out of the juridical space: an inquiry into labour law and the workers' movement in Egypt
Authors: Taha Mai
Published: May 2014

Since the spark of the Egyptian revolution in January 2011, issues of political party law reform, constitutional declarations, and the institution of free and fair elections have taken the lead in mainstream politics, and at times, relegated the role of organised labour to mere economistic agitation and disruption of an already ‘disrupted’ life, in the eyes of the Egyptian public. In contrast to mainstream depiction of the labour movement as a ‘single issue’ movement, this paper shows the decisive political role of labour struggles that took place both inside and outside the judicial and legal systems, in the years leading up to the events of 25 January. This paper identifies the diversity of tactics used by the labour movement, and its unique approach to legality – a defensive legality approach, where legality and illegality are both taken seriously as legitimate tactics of resistance. The defensive legality approach recognises the violence and coerciveness of the legal form, as well as the tactical potential of recourse to the legal system to defend the labour movement. The experience of Egyptian workers in the wake of the 25 January revolution reveals the politics and the limits of law, as well as the significance of tactically and defensively using the law.