bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The contribution of zooplankton faecal pellets to deep-carbon transport in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)
Authors: Manno C. , Stowasser G. , Enderlein P. , Fielding S. , Tarling G. A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The northern Scotia Sea contains the largest seasonal uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide yet measured in the Southern Ocean. This study examines one of the main routes by which this carbon fluxes to the deep ocean: through the production of faecal pellets (FPs) by the zooplankton community. Deep sediment traps were deployed at two sites with contrasting ocean productivity regimes (P3, naturally iron-fertilized, and P2, iron-limited) within the same water mass. The magnitude and seasonal pattern of particulate organic carbon (POC) and FPs in the traps was markedly different between the two sites. Maximum fluxes at P3 (22.91 mg C m−2 d−1; 2534 FP m−2 d1) were 1 order of magnitude higher than at P2 (4.01 mg C m−2 d−1; 915 FP m−2 d1, with flux at P3 exhibiting a double seasonal peak, compared to a single flatter peak at P2. The maximum contribution of FP carbon to the total amount of POC was twice as high at P3 (91%) compared to P2 (40%). The dominant FP category at P3 varied between round, ovoidal, cylindrical and tabular over the course of the year, while, at P2, ovoidal FPs were consistently dominant, always making up more than 60% of the FP assemblage. There was also a difference in the FP state between the two sites, with FPs being relatively intact at P3, while FPs were often fragmented with broken peritrophic membranes at P2. The exception was ovoidal FPs, which were relatively intact at both sites. Our observations suggest that there was a community shift from a herbivorous to an omnivorous diet from spring through to autumn at P3, while detritivores had a higher relative importance over the year at P2. Furthermore, the flux was mainly a product of the vertically migrating zooplankton community at P3, while the FP flux was more likely to be generated by deeper-dwelling zooplankton feeding on recycled material at P2. The results demonstrate that the feeding behaviour and vertical distribution of the zooplankton community plays a critical role in controlling the magnitude of carbon export to the deep ocean in this region.
Impact of change in erosion rate and landscape steepness on hillslope and fluvial sediments grain size in the Feather River basin (Sierra Nevada, California)
Authors: Attal M. , Mudd S. M. , Hurst M. D. , Weinman B. , Yoo K. , Naylor M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The characteristics of the sediment transported by rivers (e.g. sediment flux, grain size distribution – GSD) dictate whether rivers aggrade or erode their substrate. They also condition the architecture and properties of sedimentary successions in basins. In this study, we investigate the relationship between landscape steepness and the grain size of hillslope and fluvial sediments. The study area is located within the Feather River basin in northern California, and studied basins are underlain exclusively by tonalite lithology. Erosion rates in the study area vary over an order of magnitude, from >250 mm ka−1 in the Feather River canyon to <15 mm ka−1 on an adjacent low-relief plateau. We find that the coarseness of hillslope sediment increases with increasing hillslope steepness and erosion rates. We hypothesise that, in our soil samples, the measured 10-fold increase in D50 and doubling of the amount of fragments larger than 1 mm when slope increases from 0.38 to 0.83 m m−1 is due to a decrease in the residence time of rock fragments, causing particles to be exposed for shorter periods of time to processes that can reduce grain size. For slopes in excess of 0.7 m m−1, landslides and scree cones supply much coarser sediment to rivers, with D50 and D84 more than one order of magnitude larger than in soils. In the tributary basins of the Feather River, a prominent break in slope developed in response to the rapid incision of the Feather River. Downstream of the break in slope, fluvial sediment grain size increases, due to an increase in flow competence (mostly driven by channel steepening) as well as a change in sediment source and in sediment dynamics: on the plateau upstream of the break in slope, rivers transport easily mobilised fine-grained sediment derived exclusively from soils. Downstream of the break in slope, mass wasting processes supply a wide range of grain sizes that rivers entrain selectively, depending on the competence of their flow. Our results also suggest that, in this study site, hillslopes respond rapidly to an increase in the rate of base-level lowering compared to rivers.
A global carbon assimilation system using a modified ensemble Kalman filter
Authors: Zhang S. , Zheng X. , Chen J. M. , Chen Z. , Dan B. , Yi X. , Wang L. , Wu G.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. A Global Carbon Assimilation System based on the ensemble Kalman filter (GCAS-EK) is developed for assimilating atmospheric CO2 data into an ecosystem model to simultaneously estimate the surface carbon fluxes and atmospheric CO2 distribution. This assimilation approach is similar to CarbonTracker, but with several new developments, including inclusion of atmospheric CO2 concentration in state vectors, using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) with 1-week assimilation windows, using analysis states to iteratively estimate ensemble forecast errors, and a maximum likelihood estimation of the inflation factors of the forecast and observation errors. The proposed assimilation approach is used to estimate the terrestrial ecosystem carbon fluxes and atmospheric CO2 distributions from 2002 to 2008. The results show that this assimilation approach can effectively reduce the biases and uncertainties of the carbon fluxes simulated by the ecosystem model.
Income Distributional Effects of CAP Subsidies
Authors: Ciaian Pavel , Kancs d'Artis , Paloma Sergio Gomez y
Published: March 2015

This paper studies the income distributional effects of three main instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU: Coupled Direct Payments (CDP), the Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). The authors use a large set of cross-country farm-level panel data for the EU covering the period 1999–2007, and employ the GMM estimator, which allows important sources of endogeneity to be addressed. According to the results, farmers gain 66–72%, 77–82% and 93–109% from the CDP, SPS and RDP respectively. These findings suggest that the initiated shift in CAP expenditure from the support of farm production activities towards supporting rural development and the provision of public goods and externalities is also in line with supporting farmers' income.
Women Entrepreneurship: Problems Faced by Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Sindh Province of Pakistan
Authors: Har Bakhsh Makhijani  , Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar  , Shuhab Mughal  , Urooj Talpur
Published: March 2015

Rural women consist of more than one quarter of the total world population and world over they are an essential and fundamental force in the development processes that are the main factors to socio economic progress. There have been a number of serious obstacles; some of them are social, managerial, production and marketing constraints and difficulties arises both from within and outside differ from enterprise to enterprise.This study was carried out in Sindh province of Pakistan. For the study purpose 3 districts were selected out of the existing 28 districts, from each district five villages were selected through a multistage sampling techniques. Twenty five women entrepreneurs were selected from each village. Thus making a sample of 375 women was randomly selected for the study. A well structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the women entrepreneurs on their personal and socio-economic characteristics and problem faced by them in entrepreneurship at field level. Statistical techniques like mean scores and percentages were used to analyze the data. Majority of 37.53% of the respondents were within 36-45 years of age. Majority of respondents were single (36%) among these were married (25%) and those who were divorced (17%), while 16% were Widow. 47% women’s entrepreneurs had 6-10 family members, while 40.84% were 1-5 household size. Majority of the respondents had primary education (44%), while only 22.51% had no formal education. Forty four percent (44.16%) of the respondents had >5 years of entrepreneur experience, 40.83% had 6-10 years. Majority (28%) expressed that lack of family cooperation is causing a problem. However 25.33% of respondents reported lack of reorganization of women’s work in the society as a social problem. Almost 40% of the respondents faced lack of credit facilities, while 34.67% of the respondents perceived that complex loaning procedure is a major problem to manage the business. About 32% respondents perceived that inaccessibility of place of work, while 28% respondents perceived as a lack of marketing facility was a major problem. It was recommended that the need for providing family cooperation and women’s involved in entrepreneurs may be recognized in all stage to promote entrepreneurship at field level. Adequate training must be given to the women entrepreneurship at field level and guidance at all stages can be effective ways to cope the problems of women entrepreneurs that hinders in entrepreneurship The major problems of micro credit, complex loan procedure, lack of marketing, transport facilities needs to be improved for the successful enterprise development in the province and an appropriate marketing facilities and micro credits through public private organizations may be extended to the rural women for their successful business
El uso de GPS para el análisis del comportamiento espacio-temporal de los turistas. Pre-test en el Valle de Boí
Authors: Donaire José A. , Galí Núria , Royo-Vela Marcelo
Published: March 2015

Este artículo es un análisis exploratorio sobre el uso de los GPS para estudiar el comportamiento de los visitantes en un espacio abierto. El Valle de Boí es un escenario turístico que ofrece diversos recursos de primer orden, por lo que el estudio de los recorridos de los visitantes permite analizar la respuesta a estímulos muy diferentes. Los resultados demuestran que el recurso del GPS en espacios abiertos permite ampliar la información sobre el uso social del espacio turístico y abre las puertas a nuevas formas de análisis.
Tendencias y oportunidades de desarrollo turístico en la Costa Tropical de Granada: la visión de los municipios
Authors: Espinosa Arias Jesús A. , Rodríguez Martínez Francisco de Asís
Published: March 2015

El artículo presenta la situación del turismo litoral español, el desarrollo del turismo en la Costa de Granada y su evolución, como uno de los espacios litorales del país con poco desarrollo del turismo. Por medio de entrevistas se presenta la visión de los alcaldes. Se reconoce la potencialidad turística de la zona y la importancia de la Mancomunidad de Municipios como ente para la planeación del desarrollo turístico, sin embargo se percibe una ausencia de liderazgo y visión común. Se vislumbra a la Mancomunidad como la instancia que debe impulsar el desarrollo en la costa de Granada.
«Suiza en la aventura de La Mancha»: patrimonio y turismo cultural en los años del desarrollismo español
Authors: Torres Camacho Jesús Nicolás
Published: March 2015

En 1972 un grupo de directivos de agencias de viajes suizos y alemanes llegaron a España para visitar la comarca de La Mancha con el fin de conocer los recursos turísticos que ésta podría ofrecer, algunos conocidos mundialmente desde la publicación de la novela cervantina de El Quijote. Durante la Dictadura del General Franco las actividades turísticas experimentaron un importante auge a través de un turismo de masas principalmente extranjero centrado en las áreas costeras, pero en este caso la administración preparó un proyecto para atraer turistas hacia el interior, concretamente a La Mancha.
Albania’s challenge for access and competitiveness in EU Market: When good will requires more than legal regulation. An inside of Albania’s efforts to increase the presence of its domestic product in EU markets.
Authors: Spaho Edi
Published: March 2015

Albania has experienced a difficult transition period, characterized by efforts to establish an economic system oriented towards the free market. Despite the difficulties encountered during the transition process, Albania has made progress in the macroeconomic stability and structural reforms. Nowadays, the economy of our country has become an integral part of initiatives for liberalizing and facilitating trade with countries of the European Union. Active participation in these initiatives increases the possibilities of our economy to be specialized and simultaneously requires commitment towards increasing competitiveness. For each country, foreign trade indicators reflect the level of economic development and mutual profit, which is why the analysis and evaluation of commercial indicators have a special importance. Albania now faces a new challenge of increasing the competitiveness in the international market and the aim of entering the European Union. As it is widely known, foreign trade is a very important factor that affects the growth of a country and reflects the increase of competitive ability. Foreign trade developments constitute an important component of overall economic developments in general and the external sector in particular. Foreign trade is of particular importance for the economies of small dimensions, such as that of our country. The performance in export of Albanian goods plays an important role in the perspective and sustainable development of the country’s economy, as well as in the trade balance in order to be able to face the European competition. The export growth rate in several years is an important indicator on the progress of which, one can judge the stability and sustainability of the economy in general and its ability to compete in the EU market, but it also reflects in a very direct and close way the conjuncture of European common market.
“The Pursuit of Human Perfection”: Brazil at the Vienna Universal Exhibition of 1873
Authors: Schuster Sven
Published: March 2015

Between 1862 and 1889, the Brazilian government under Emperor D. Pedro II (1831-1889) perceived international exhibitions as an excellent opportunity for promoting and projecting an idealized image of the “modern nation”. Although most exhibitions, such as the Vienna Universal Exhibition of 1873, focused on Brazil’s economic development and its vast natural resources, representations of its population and culture also played an important role in the elites’ project to disseminate the image of a “new Brazil” abroad. However, these events were not as harmonious as it would seem at first glance, a fact that illustrates the growing divisions within the Empire during this period.
The unexhausted potential of E. coli
Authors: Blount Zachary D
Published: March 2015

E. coli's hardiness, versatility, broad palate and ease of handling have made it the most intensively studied and best understood organism on the planet. However, research on E.coli has primarily examined it as a model organism, one that is abstracted from any natural history. But E. coli is far more than just a microbial lab rat. Rather, it is a highly diverse organism with a complex, multi-faceted niche in the wild. Recent studies of ‘wild’ E. coli have, for example, revealed a great deal about its presence in the environment, its diversity and genomic evolution, as well as its role in the human microbiome and disease. These findings have shed light on aspects of its biology and ecology that pose far-reaching questions and illustrate how an appreciation of E. coli's natural history can expand its value as a model organism.
Planting molecular functions in an ecological context with Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Krämer Ute
Published: March 2015

The vascular plant Arabidopsis thaliana is a central genetic model and universal reference organism in plant and crop science. The successful integration of different fields of research in the study of A. thaliana has made a large contribution to our molecular understanding of key concepts in biology. The availability and active development of experimental tools and resources, in combination with the accessibility of a wealth of cumulatively acquired knowledge about this plant, support the most advanced systems biology approaches among all land plants. Research in molecular ecology and evolution has also brought the natural history of A. thaliana into the limelight. This article showcases our current knowledge of the natural history of A. thaliana from the perspective of the most closely related plant species, providing an evolutionary framework for interpreting novel findings and for developing new hypotheses based on our knowledge of this plant.
Lpcat3-dependent production of arachidonoyl phospholipids is a key determinant of triglyceride secretion
Authors: Rong Xin , Wang Bo , Dunham Merlow M , Hedde Per Niklas , Wong Jinny S , Gratton Enrico , Young Stephen G , Ford David A , Tontonoz Peter
Published: March 2015

The role of specific phospholipids (PLs) in lipid transport has been difficult to assess due to an inability to selectively manipulate membrane composition in vivo. Here we show that the phospholipid remodeling enzyme lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (Lpcat3) is a critical determinant of triglyceride (TG) secretion due to its unique ability to catalyze the incorporation of arachidonate into membranes. Mice lackingLpcat3in the intestine fail to thrive during weaning and exhibit enterocyte lipid accumulation and reduced plasma TGs. Mice lackingLpcat3in the liver show reduced plasma TGs, hepatosteatosis, and secrete lipid-poor very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) lacking arachidonoyl PLs. Mechanistic studies indicate that Lpcat3 activity impacts membrane lipid mobility in living cells, suggesting a biophysical basis for the requirement of arachidonoyl PLs in lipidating lipoprotein particles. These data identify Lpcat3 as a key factor in lipoprotein production and illustrate how manipulation of membrane composition can be used as a regulatory mechanism to control metabolic pathways.
Multi‐instrument investigation of a mesospheric gravity wave event absorbed into background
Authors: Sivakandan M. , Taori A. , Sathishkumar S. , Jayaraman A.
Published: March 2015

We investigate a gravity wave event exhibiting dissipation noted in the mesospheric O(1S) airglow emission image measurements, over Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E), on 16 March 2012 (during 16:20–16:45 UT). These gravity waves were found to propagate from south‐west to north‐east directions at ~65° azimuth in OH as well as in O(1S) images. These waves had horizontal wavelength ~21.5 km with apparent horizontal phase speed ~49 m s−1 and period ~7.3 min. These waves were noted to fizzle out in turbulent patches within 15 min. To identify the causative mechanism of this event, we analyze the background wind and temperature data using the medium‐frequency radar wind from Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E), ground‐based Rayleigh lidar temperature data with improved capability over Gadanki, and spaceborne Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry/Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics temperature data (20:30 UT) for a latitude‐longitude grid of 3–23°N, 60–100°E. Our analysis reveals that convective instability was responsible for the observed event.
Grain size and flow volume effects on granular flow mobility in numerical simulations: 3‐D discrete element modeling of flows of angular rock fragments
Authors: Cagnoli B. , Piersanti A.
Published: March 2015

The results of three‐dimensional discrete element modeling presented in this paper confirm the grain size and flow volume effects on granular flow mobility that were observed in laboratory experiments where batches of granular material traveled down a curved chute. Our numerical simulations are able to predict the correct relative mobility of the granular flows because they take into account particle interactions and, thus, the energy dissipated by the flows. The results illustrated here are obtained without prior fine‐tuning of the parameter values to get the desired output. The grain size and flow volume effects can be expressed by a linear relationship between scaling parameters where the finer the grain size or the smaller the flow volume, the more mobile the center of mass of the granular flows. The numerical simulations reveal also the effect of the initial compaction of the granular masses before release. The larger the initial compaction, the more mobile the center of mass of the granular flows. Both grain size effect and compaction effect are explained by different particle agitations per unit of flow mass that cause different energy dissipations per unit of travel distance. The volume effect is explained by the backward accretion of the deposits that occurs wherever there is a change of slope (either gradual or abrupt). Our results are relevant for the understanding of the travel and deposition mechanisms of geophysical flows such as rock avalanches and pyroclastic flows.
Indonesian throughflow proxy from satellite altimeters and gravimeters
Authors: Susanto R. Dwi , Song Y. Tony
Published: March 2015

The Indonesian throughflow (ITF) from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean plays an important role in global ocean circulation and climate. Yet, continuous ITF measurement is difficult and expensive. The longest time series of in situ measurements of the ITF to date were taken in the Makassar Strait, the main pathway of the ITF. Here we have demonstrated a plausible approach to derive the ITF transport proxy using satellite altimetry sea surface height (SSH), gravimetry ocean bottom pressure (OBP) data, in situ measurements from the Makassar Strait from 1996 to 1998 and 2004 to 2011, and a theoretical formulation. We first identified the optimal locations of the correlation between the observed ITF transport through the Makassar Strait and the pressure gradients, represented by the SSH and OBP differences between the Pacific and Indian Oceans at a 1° × 1° horizontal resolution. The optimal locations were found centered at 162°E and 11°N in the Pacific Ocean and 80°E and 0° in the Indian Ocean, then were used in the theoretical formulation to estimate the throughflow. The proxy time series follow the observation time series quite well, with the 1993–2011 mean proxy transport of 11.6 ± 3.2 Sv southward, varying from 5.6 Sv during the strong 1997 El Niño to 16.9 Sv during the 2007 La Nina period, which are consistent with previous estimates. The observed Makassar mean transport is 13.0 ± 3.8 Sv southward over 2004–2011, while the SSH proxy (for the same period) gives an ITF mean transport of 13.9 ± 4.1 Sv and the SSH + OBP proxy (for 2004–2010) is 15.8 ± 3.2 Sv.
Ertel potential vorticity versus Bernoulli streamfunction in earth's extratropical atmosphere
Authors: Du J. , Dowling T. E. , Bradley M. E.
Published: March 2015

We investigate the correlation of Ertel potential vorticity, Q, with Bernoulli streamfunction, B, on potential‐temperature surfaces, θ, in Earth's atmosphere poleward of
latitude. For input, we use the 1979–2010 CMAM30‐SD specified‐dynamics data set. We fit the model
separately in the midlatitude
and polar
regions, and nondimensionalize the slope parameter as
. In the troposphere, the peak of
is approximately 2–3 in winter and 3–4 in summer in both regions. In the stratosphere during winter, both
and
hover around unity. In spring and fall,
continues to hover near unity, but
rises by a factor of two, with its maximum located at
to
. In summer, the polar value drops to
, while the midlatitude value swings negative to
to −3. In the mesosphere,
exhibits incessant fluctuations with values that usually fall within the range 0 to 1. The results support the paradigm
for dynamically active regions primarily in the vicinity of
–
(
–
) in the mesosphere, whereas except in summer, we get the simple result that the monthly climate‐averaged profile,
, in the polar regions is nearly unity across the entire stratosphere. During extended recoveries following SSWs, the midlatitude vertical profile develops a peak near 2000 K that descends over the course of a few weeks, alongside the descent of the elevated stratopause in the polar region.
Impact of soil moisture on dust outbreaks in East Asia: Using satellite and assimilation data
Authors: Kim Hyunglok , Choi Minha
Published: March 2015

This study is the first assessment of the effects of soil moisture on dust outbreaks using satellite‐derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) and global assimilation data on the sand regions across East Asia. The relationships among dust outbreaks, soil moisture, and wind speed were estimated using data sets of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and Global Land Data Assimilation System collected over 11 years (2003–2013). The mean AOD exponentially decreased with increasing soil moisture under different wind speed conditions (average determination coefficient = 0.95). As the wind speed conditions became stronger, the probability of a dust outbreak became greatly affected by soil moisture. The threshold soil moisture for dust outbreaks increased with increasing wind speed and decreased with increasing dust‐outbreak criteria of AOD. Our results have the capability to be applied to satellite‐based dust‐outbreak prediction and global‐scale dust‐emission studies.
The seismic traffic footprint: Tracking trains, aircraft, and cars seismically
Authors: Riahi Nima , Gerstoft Peter
Published: March 2015

Although naturally occurring vibrations have proven useful to probe the subsurface, the vibrations caused by traffic have not been explored much. Such data, however, are less sensitive to weather and low visibility compared to some common out‐of‐road traffic sensing systems. We study traffic‐generated seismic noise measured by an array of 5200 geophones that covered a 7 × 10 km area in Long Beach (California, USA) with a receiver spacing of 100 m. This allows us to look into urban vibrations below the resolution of a typical city block. The spatiotemporal structure of the anthropogenic seismic noise intensity reveals the Blue Line Metro train activity, departing and landing aircraft in Long Beach Airport and their acceleration, and gives clues about traffic movement along the I‐405 highway at night. As low‐cost, stand‐alone seismic sensors are becoming more common, these findings indicate that seismic data may be useful for traffic monitoring.
What Is the Relationship Between Morning Symptoms and Measures of Disease Activity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Authors: Boers M. , Buttgereit F. , Saag K. , Alten R. , Grahn A. , Storey D. , Rice P. , Kirwan J.
Published: March 2015

Objective

Little is known about the relationship between morning symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and measures of disease activity currently used to assess RA. Information available from the Circadian Administration of Prednisone in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAPRA‐2) study was used to investigate these relationships.

Methods

CAPRA‐2 included 350 patients with RA who were symptomatic despite treatment with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs, randomized 2:1 to additional treatment with a 5‐mg daily dose of delayed‐release prednisone or placebo. Pearson's correlations were used to evaluate the relationships between change from baseline in symptoms (duration of morning stiffness, severity of morning stiffness, and intensity of pain on waking) and measures of disease activity (the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria [ACR20], the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], and the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index). Correlations were defined as weak (<0.3), moderate (0.3–0.7), or strong (>0.7).

Results

There was a strong correlation between the severity of morning stiffness and the intensity of morning pain (Pearson's correlation 0.91, P < 0.001). There was a weak correlation between the duration of morning stiffness and measures of disease activity (0.24–0.28), with moderate correlations between the severity of morning stiffness or intensity of pain on waking and DAS28 or ACR20 scores (0.44–0.48). Severity of morning stiffness showed less variability and a greater effect size than did duration of morning stiffness.

Conclusion

Morning symptoms and measures of disease activity show weak to moderate correlations. Severity of morning stiffness showed less variability and greater effect size than did duration of morning stiffness. These findings suggest that severity is the preferred construct to measure the impact of morning stiffness in patients with RA, information that is not fully captured in the RA core set.
Ba9Lu2Si6O24:Ce3+: An Efficient Green Phosphor with High Thermal and Radiation Stability for Solid‐State Lighting
Authors: Liu Yongfu , Zhang Jianxin , Zhang Changhua , Xu Jingtao , Liu Guoqiang , Jiang Jun , Jiang Haochuan
Published: March 2015

Among the inorganic phosphors used in advanced solid‐state lighting technologies, nitridosilicates have drawn significant attention because of their superior photoluminescence properties with high efficiency and high thermal stabilities. However, the synthesis of nitride phosphors usually requires strict processing conditions and a long processing time, leading to very high manufacturing costs. Herein, a novel orthosilicate green phosphor, Ba9Lu2Si6O24:Ce3+, is synthesized via a simple solid‐state reaction. The photoluminescence characterization identifies a main peak at 400 nm in the excitation spectrum, making it viable for near‐UV LED excitation. This phosphor exhibits a broad emission band with a width of nearly 120 nm, peaking at 490 nm. By optimizing the Ce3+ concentration, an internal quantum efficiency (QE) as high as 82% can be achieved, which is equivalent to that of most nitride phosphors. Furthermore, nearly 94% of the room‐temperature internal QE is still maintained at 160 °C, which is superior to that of most nitride phosphors. The excellent thermal stability and luminescent properties show this compound to be a promising candidate as a green phosphor for near‐UV‐based white LEDs.
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Catalyzed Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with Amines
Authors: Alanthadka Anitha , Maheswari C. Uma
Published: March 2015

The N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐catalyzed oxidative amidation of aromatic aldehydes with amines in the presence of N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) as an oxidant has been developed for the synthesis of amides. This amidation strategy is tolerant to both the electronic and the steric nature of the aryl aldehydes employed. The present methodology was extended to chiral amino acid derivatives to generate the corresponding amides in good yields and excellent ee values (>98%).

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Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Vinylogous Michael Reactions of 3,5‐Dialkyl‐Substituted 4‐Nitroisoxazoles: A Direct Method for the Synthesis of Chiral Isoxazole Derivatives
Authors: Zhang Yong , Wei Biaowen , Lin Hui , Cui Weirong , Zeng Xianqiang , Fan Xiaolin
Published: March 2015

The direct asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition of 3,5‐dialkyl‐substituted 4‐nitroisoxazoles with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by a diphenylprolinol TBS ether organocatalyst is described, giving products with moderate to good yields and up to excellent enantioselectivities (96% ee). This approach provides an easy access to highly functionalized chiral isoxazole derivatives.

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Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Selective CH Cyanation of Indolines and Indoles with an Easily Accessible Cyano Source
Authors: Mishra Neeraj Kumar , Jeong Taejoo , Sharma Satyasheel , Shin Youngmi , Han Sangil , Park Jihye , Oh Joa Sub , Kwak Jong Hwan , Jung Young Hoon , Kim In Su
Published: March 2015

The rhodium‐catalyzed selective cyanation of CH bonds of indolines and indoles with N‐cyano‐N‐phenyl‐para‐methylbenzenesulfonamide is described. This protocol offers a facile access to C‐7 cyanated indolines and C‐2 cyanated indoles with high site selectivity and excellent functional group tolerance.

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Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydrofurans via Organocatalytic Domino Michael–Alkylation Reaction
Authors: Feng Juhua , Lin Lili , Yu Kunru , Liu Xiaohua , Feng Xiaoming
Published: March 2015

The chiral N,N′‐dioxide C‐PrPr2 has been developed as an efficient organocatalyst to catalyze the asymmetric domino Michael–alkylation reaction between cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione derivatives and bromonitrostyrenes. For dimedone, the corresponding bicyclic 2,3‐dihydrofurans with two stereocenters were obtained in up to 99 % yield with 95:5 d.r. and 96 % ee. For prochiral 5‐monosubstituted cyclohexane‐1,3‐diones, the desymmetrization reaction provided the bicyclic 2,3‐dihydrofurans with three stereocenters in up to 90 % yield with 82:18 d.r. and 94 % ee.

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Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rural elderly of Asian Indian origin
Authors: Nag Tanmay , Ghosh Arnab
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Virtually no studies have been undertaken to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among the rural elderly in India. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of sex and age on body fat distribution, blood pressure (BP), and metabolic variables as well as to look at the prevalence of MS and related phenotypes by age‐groups and sex.

Methods

A total of 312 participants aged ≥55 years took part in the present cross‐sectional study. All the participants were grouped into: Group I (55–59 years); Group II (60–64 years); Group III (65–69 years); and Group IV (≥70 years). Anthropometric measures were collected using standard techniques. Metabolic profiles and blood pressure were also measured.

Results

MANOVA revealed significant sex and age group effects on percent body fat, trunk extremity ratio, and diastolic BP. Significant sex effects were evident for BMI, waist‐hip ratio, waist‐height ratio, total cholesterol, and HDL. The overall prevalence of MS was found to be 28.2% with a higher prevalence in females (36.9%) as compared to males (23.9%).

Conclusion

It seems reasonable to argue that MS is considerably high in the rural elderly of Asian Indian origin and early intervention is warranted to avoid further escalation in cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:724–727, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of physical activity on the association between the FTO variant rs9939609 and adiposity in young adults
Authors: Muc Magdalena , Padez Cristina , Manco Licínio
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To investigate in a population sample of Portuguese young adults the association of the FTO variant rs9939609 with obesity, BMI, and body‐fat and interaction with physical activity (PA) on obesity‐susceptibility.

Methods

SNP rs9939609 A/T was genotyped in 550 subjects (231 males and 319 females; 18–36 years old; mean age 21 years old) by TaqMan assay. PA was assessed with a validated self‐reported questionnaire of IPAQ.

Results

We replicated the association of rs9939609‐A risk allele with BMI (P = 0.04) and fat‐mass (P = 0.031), and with overweight (including obesity) under a recessive model (P = 0.034). Stratified analyses showed (i) a significant association with overweight/obesity in inactive individuals (P = 0.02) but not in a group reporting participation in sports (P = 0.97). Spearman's correlation test suggested that the impact of a successive increase in PA was a decrease in the body‐fat percentage (r = −0.16; P = 0.0002), which is accentuated for homozygous AA (r = −0.34; P = 0.002), and an increase in BMI (r = 0.14; P = 0.001), with a statistically significant correlation for homozygous TT (r = 0.22; P = 0.002).

Conclusions

This study reveals interactions between rs9939609 and PA on obesity indices in Portuguese young adults, suggesting a change in the different body components (lean and fat mass) depending on the FTO genotypes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:734–738, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ruthenium‐Catalyzed CC Bond Cleavage in Lignin Model Substrates
Authors: vom Stein Thorsten , den Hartog Tim , Buendia Julien , Stoychev Spas , Mottweiler Jakob , Bolm Carsten , Klankermayer Jürgen , Leitner Walter
Published: March 2015

Ruthenium–triphos complexes exhibited unprecedented catalytic activity and selectivity in the redox‐neutral CC bond cleavage of the β‐O‐4 lignin linkage of 1,3‐dilignol model compounds. A mechanistic pathway involving a dehydrogenation‐initiated retro‐aldol reaction for the CC bond cleavage was proposed in line with experimental data and DFT calculations.
The Predictability from Skull Morphology of Temporalis and Masseter Muscle Cross‐Sectional Areas in Humans
Authors: Toro‐Ibacache Viviana , Zapata MuÑoz Victor , O'higgins Paul
Published: March 2015

To carry out functional simulations of the masticatory system that aim to predict strain magnitudes it is important to apply appropriate jaw‐elevator muscle forces. Force magnitude estimation from directly measured muscle physiological cross‐sectional area or anatomical cross‐sectional area (CSA) is not possible for fossils and skeletal material from museum collections. In these cases, muscle CSAs are often estimated from bony features. This approach has been shown to be inaccurate in a prior study based on direct measurements from cadavers. Postmortem alterations as well as age changes in muscle form might explain this discrepancy. As such, the present study uses CT images from 20 living individuals to directly measure temporalis and masseter muscle CSAs and estimated cross‐sectional areas (ECSAs) from bony features. The relationships between CSAs and ECSAs were assessed by comparing mean values and by examining correlations. ECSAs are up to 100% greater than CSA and the means of these variables for each muscle differ significantly. Further, ECSA is significantly correlated with CSA for temporalis but not masseter. Cranial centroid size is only significantly associated with CSA for temporalis. These findings indicate that ECSAs should be employed with caution in simulations of human masticatory system functioning; they do not reflect CSAs and it is plausible that this also applies to studies of closely related living and fossil taxa. When ECSAs are used, sensitivity analyses are required to determine the impact of potential errors. Anat Rec, 298:1261–1270, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Food Sources of Protein and Risk of Incident Gout in the Singapore Chinese Health Study
Authors: Teng Gim Gee , Pan An , Yuan Jian‐Min , Koh Woon‐Puay
Published: March 2015

Objective

Prospective studies evaluating diet in relation to the risk of gout in Asian populations are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the consumption of dietary protein from each of its major sources and the risk of gout in a Chinese population.

Methods

We used data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort of 63,257 Chinese adults who were 45–74 years old at recruitment during the years 1993–1998. Habitual diet information was collected via a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and physician‐diagnosed gout was self‐reported during 2 followup interviews up to the year 2010. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), with adjustment for potential confounders, among 51,114 eligible study participants who were free of gout at baseline and responded to our followup interviews.

Results

A total of 2,167 participants reported physician‐diagnosed gout during the followup period. The multivariate‐adjusted HRs (with 95% CIs) of gout, comparing the first quartile with the fourth quartile, were as follows: 1.27 (1.12–1.44; P for trend < 0.001) for total protein, 1.27 (1.11–1.45; P for trend < 0.001) for poultry, 1.16 (1.02–1.32; P for trend = 0.006) for fish and shellfish, 0.86 (0.75–0.98; P for trend = 0.018) for soy food, and 0.83 (0.73–0.95; P for trend = 0.012) for nonsoy legumes. No statistically significant associations were found with protein intake from other sources (red meat, eggs, dairy products, grains, or nuts and seeds).

Conclusion

In this Chinese population living in Singapore, higher total dietary protein intake from mainly poultry and fish/shellfish was associated with an increased risk of gout, while dietary intake of soy and nonsoy legumes was associated with a reduced risk of gout.
Brief Report: Childhood‐Onset Systemic Necrotizing Vasculitides: Long‐Term Data From the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry
Authors: Iudici Michele , Puéchal Xavier , Pagnoux Christian , Quartier Pierre , Agard Christian , Aouba Achille , Büchler Matthias , Cevallos Ramiro , Cohen Pascal , de Moreuil Claire , Guilpain Philippe , Le Quellec Alain , Roblot Pascal , Serratrice Jacques , Bachmeyer Claude , Daugas Éric , Terrier Benjamin , Mouthon Luc , Guillevin Loïc ,   for the French Vasculitis Study Group
Published: March 2015

Objective

To describe the initial features and long‐term outcomes of childhood‐onset small vessel and medium vessel systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNVs), including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitides (AAVs) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN).

Methods

Data on patients with childhood‐onset SNV registered in the French Vasculitis Study Group database were reviewed for demographic characteristics, clinical, laboratory, and histologic features, and outcomes. Disease activity was assessed with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and the Paediatric Vasculitis Activity Score, and damage was scored using the Vasculitis Damage Index. Relapse and survival rates and causes of death were analyzed.

Results

Fifty‐six patients (35 with AAV and 21 with PAN) (median age at database enrollment 14 years [range 2–17]) were included in the study. The median duration of followup was 96 months (range 1–336); two‐thirds of the patients were followed up beyond 18 years of age. Six patients (11%) died, mostly of SNV‐related causes. Relapse rates ranged from 33% for microscopic polyangiitis to 50% for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg‐Strauss) and 83% for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), with similar rates among AAV and PAN patients (76% and 75%, respectively); neither overall survival nor relapse‐free survival differed significantly between the 2 disease groups. Rates of relapse increased after 18 years of age, both among patients with AAV and among patients with PAN. At the last followup evaluation, AAV patients had more major flares and more severe accrued damage compared with PAN patients.

Conclusion

Despite similar relapse rates, patients with childhood‐onset AAVs experienced more major flares with more cumulative damage than those with pediatric PAN. Treatments aimed at reducing the rates of mortality and relapse in this patient group need to be developed and assessed.
Computer‐Aided Assessment of Spinal Inflammation on Magnetic Resonance Images in Patients With Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Griffith James F. , Wang Defeng , Shi Lin , Yeung David K. W. , Lee Ryan , Shan Tam Lai
Published: March 2015

Objective

To evaluate a computer‐aided approach to the assessment of spinal inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in spondyloarthritis as compared to visual assessment.

Methods

Following institutional ethics approval, 32 patients (mean ± SD age 35.3 ± 10.2 years) with active ankylosing spondylitis underwent treatment with methotrexate and infliximab for 30 weeks. Spinal MRI examination (T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted fat‐suppressed, and postcontrast T1‐weighted fat‐suppressed sagittal sequences using a 1.5T MRI system) was performed at baseline and at 30 weeks. Following manual identification of the vertebral corners, vertebral body segmentation was performed using a deformable model that automatically isolated the 4 vertebral corner areas, allowing automatic measurement of the relative mean corner intensity of each vertebral corner before and after treatment. Quantitative computer‐aided assessment of spinal inflammation was compared with a semiquantitative visual assessment of spinal inflammation (the Berlin method).

Results

Computer‐aided quantification was quick and highly reliable, and it identified increases in vertebral corner edema or enhancement that were significantly decreased following treatment (P < 0.5). For computer‐aided analysis, there was excellent inter‐ and intrarater correlation of both corner edema and enhancement (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] >0.99), and the correlations were better than those for visual analysis (ICCs 0.83–0.96). For computer‐aided analysis, the standardized response mean was 1.67 for corner edema and 1.64 for enhancement, as compared to 1.20 and 1.18, respectively, for visual analysis. Computer‐aided quantification of MRI data correlated better (r = 0.50–0.53, P < 0.01) with clinical features of spinal disease activity pre‐ and posttreatment than did visual analysis of spinal inflammation (r = 0.37–0.43, P > 0.02).

Conclusion

Computer‐aided assessment of spinal inflammation in spondyloarthritis is quick, reliable, and sensitive and correlates better with clinical disease activity than does visual assessment by the Berlin method.
Supramolecular interaction of 18‐crown‐6 ether with mesalazine and spectrofluorimetric determination of mesalazine in pharmaceutical formulations
Authors: Elbashir Abdalla A. , Abdalla Fatima Altayib Alasha , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y.
Published: March 2015

The supramolecular interaction of protonated mesalazine (MSZ) and 18‐crown‐6 ether (18C6) has been examined by Ultraviolet–visible, FT‐IR and fluorescence spectroscopy. The formation of the inclusion complex has been confirmed based on the changes of the spectral properties. The MSZ–18C6 host–guest complex formed in (1:1) stoichiometry and the inclusion constant (K = 1.411 × 102 L mol–1) was ascertained by the typical double reciprocal plots. Furthermore, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) of (MSZ‐18C6) were obtained. Based on the remarkable enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of MSZ produced through complex formation, a simple, accurate, rapid and highly sensitive spectrofluorometric method for the determination of MSZ in aqueous solution in the presence of 18C6 was developed. The measurement of relative fluorescence intensity was carried with excitation at 298 nm, emission 410 nm. All variables affecting the reactions were studied and optimized. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 0.1–0.9 µg/mL. The absorbance was found to increase linearly with increasing concentration of MSZ. The molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated. The validity of the described method was assessed, and the method was successfully applied to the determination of MSZ in its pharmaceutical formulation. In addition, a solid inclusion complex was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of a high performance liquid chromatography method for determination of 6‐benzyl‐1‐benzyloxymethyl‐5‐iodouracil (W‐1), a novel non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats
Authors: Lu Ying‐Yuan , Wang Xin , Wang Xiao‐Wei , Liu Jun‐Yi , Li Pu , Ren Hong , Lou Ya‐Qing , Lu Chuang , Zhang Guo‐Liang
Published: March 2015

A sensitive and selective high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determination of 6‐benzyl‐1‐benzyloxymethyl‐5‐iodouracil (W‐1), a novel non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rat plasma, was developed and validated. Chromatographic separation of W‐1 and megestrol acetate (internal standard) was achieved on a reversed‐phase C18 column at 25°C. The mobile phase was consisted of acetonitrile–water (60:40, v/v) and pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The ultraviolet (UV) detector was set at the absorption wavelength of 284 nm. The calibration curve for W‐1 was linear over the concentration range of 0.01–8 µg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 10 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were <8.9 and 5.3%, respectively. The extraction recoveries ranged from 97.9 to 101.6%. The validated HPLC method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of W‐1 in rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.