bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scale-dependent relationships between soil organic carbon stocks, land-use types and biophysical characteristics in a tropical montane landscape
Authors: de Blécourt Marleen , Corre Marife D. , Paudel Ekananda , Harrison Rhett D. , Brumme Rainer , Veldkamp Edzo
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Abstract. Presently, the lack of data on soil organic carbon (SOC) in relation to land-use types and biophysical characteristics prevents reliable estimates of carbon stocks in montane landscapes of mainland SE Asia. Our study, conducted in a 10,000-hectare landscape in Xishuangbanna, SW China, aimed at assessing the spatial variability in SOC and its relationships with land-use cover and key biophysical characteristics at multiple spatial scales. We sampled 27 one-hectare plots including 10 plots in mature forests, 11 plots in regenerating or highly disturbed forests, and six plots in open land including tea plantations or grasslands. We used a sampling design with a hierarchical structure. The landscape was first classified according to land-use types. Within each land-use type, sampling plots of 100 m × 100 m each were randomly selected, and within each plot we sampled nine subplots. This hierarchical sampling design allowed partitioning of the overall variance in SOC, vegetation, soil properties and topography that was accounted for by the variability among land-use types, among plots nested within land-use types, and within plots. SOC concentrations and stocks did not differ significantly across land-use types. The SOC stocks to a depth of 0.9 m were 177.6 ± 19.6 Mg C ha−1 in tea plantations, 199.5 ± 14.8 Mg C ha−1 in regenerating or highly disturbed forests, 228.6 ± 19.7 (SE)  Mg C ha−1 in mature forests, and 236.2 ± 13.7 Mg C ha−1 in grasslands. In this montane landscape, variability within plots accounted for more than 50 % of the overall variance in SOC. The relationships between SOC, biophysical characteristics and land-use types varied across spatial scales. Variability in SOC within plots was determined by tree basal area, litter layer carbon stocks and slope. Variability in SOC among plots in open land was influenced by land-use type – SOC concentrations and stocks in grasslands were higher than in tea plantations. In forests, the variability in SOC among plots was related to elevation. The scale-dependent relationships between SOC and its controlling factors demonstrate that studies which aim to investigate the land-use effects on SOC need an appropriate sampling design reflecting the controlling factors of SOC so that land-use effects will not be masked by the variability between and within sampling plots.
The Problem of Choice: Existence and Transcendence in the Philosophy of Jaspers
Authors: Wahl Jean
Published: October 2016

English translation of Jean Wahl, “Le Problème du choix: L’existence et la transcendance dans la philosophie de Jaspers,” Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale 41, 3 (July 1934), 405–44; republished in Jean Wahl, Études kierkegaardiennes (Paris: Fernand Aubier, 1938), 510–52.
Is There a Flesh Without Body?
Authors: Falque Emmanuel
Published: October 2016

This paper was originally presented at a colloquium on Michel Henry’s book Incarnation at the Institut Catholique Paris. Michel Henry’s response to the present study can be found in “À Emmanuel Falque,” in Phénoménologie et christianisme chez Michel Henry, ed. Ph. Capelle  (Paris: Cerf, 2004): 168-182. This response was reprinted recently in Michel Henry, La Phénoménologie de la vie, vol. 5 (Paris: PUF, 2015).
Against African Communalism
Authors: Táíwò Olúfẹ́mi
Published: October 2016

Communalism and its cognates continue to exercise a vise grip on the African intellectual imaginary. Whether the discussion is in ethics or social philosophy, in metaphysics or even, on occasion, epistemology, the play of communalism, a concept expounded in the next section, is so strong that it is difficult to escape its ubiquity. In spite of this, there is little serious analysis of the concept and its implications in the contemporary context. Yet, at no other time than now can a long-suffering continent use some robust debates on its multiple inheritances regarding how to organize life and thought in order to deliver a better future for its population. Given the continual resort to communalism as, among others, the standard of ethical behavior, the blueprint for restoring Africans to wholeness and organizing our social life, as well as a template for political reorganization across the continent, one cannot overemphasize the importance of contributing some illumination to the discourse surrounding the idea. This essay seeks to offer a little illumination in this respect. Additionally, it offers a criticism of what all—proponents and antagonists alike—take to be a defensible version of communalism: moderate communalism. I shall be arguing that communalism, generally, has a problem with the individual. And the African variant of it, mostly subscribed to by the African scholars discussed below and defended by them as something either peculiar to or special in Africa, has an even harder time accommodating the individual. Yet, as history shows, until the modern age in which individualism is the principle of social ordering and mode of social living, a situation that privileges the individual, above all, various forms of communalism never really accorded the individual the recognition and forbearances that we now commonly associate with the idea. The strongest variants of moderate communalism discussed here have a difficult time taking the individual seriously. I am not aware of anyone else ever having made such a case. These arguments are offered to show that (1) Africa and Africans need to take individualism seriously and (2) such have been the historical transformation that our diverse societies have undergone in the course of the last half a millennium that the types of communalism that are on offer do not appear to take this fact of radical change with the necessary urgency.
Active Viewership and Ethical Representation: Responsible Spectatorship in Alfredo Jaar’s “Real Pictures” and Gil Courtemanche’s Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali
Authors: Ritter Angela
Published: October 2016

In its discussion of Gil Courtemanche’s Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali and Alfredo Jaar’s installation of “Real Pictures,” both of which are representations of the Rwandan Genocide, this analysis contributes to a larger discussion on ethical representations of violence. Generally the discussion of the ethics of representation analyzes the ways in which the author or artist portrays the violent events. It focuses on the importance of the historical and political context when describing the events, as well as on the ways in which the author or artist avoids the potential objectifying or dehumanizing effects of representations on the victims, as well as, the perpetrators. This article highlights another important element to be considered in the study of ethical representations- that of how the reader is engaged in the representation and as a result may or may not contribute to stereotypes, objectification, and other negative consequences possible when representing violence. Those who represent violence must not only consider ethical implications with their own interactions with the event and text or image, but also how they encourage their audience to interact with them.
Early Nurturing Experiences, Self-Compassion, Hyperarousal and Scleroderma The Way We Relate to Ourselves May Determine Disease Progression
Authors: Kearney Karen G. , Hicks Richard E.
Published: October 2016

Scleroderma is a rare, painful and complex autoimmune connective tissue disease that can lead to death. The physiology of symptom onset and progression and the psychological aspects of living with this chronic disease have been studied fairly extensively. However, there is limited knowledge about scleroderma and negative physiological arousal (hyper-arousal: linked to immune dysfunction resulting in autoimmunity in the face of stressful events) and how levels of hyper-arousal are related to stress experienced at an early age; to emotion regulation coping strategies such as self-compassion; and to when scleroderma is experienced (earlier or later onset). Knowledge about these relationships may be important information for the treatment of scleroderma and related illnesses. This study addressed these relationships for scleroderma by examining how hyper-arousal was linked to these psychosocial experiences of stress, to coping strategies, and to age of disease onset.

A within group design was utilized. A total of 122 participants were recruited from Australia (39) the United Kingdom (81) and country not specified (2) and invited to complete an online or a hard copy survey. Lower positive early life experiences, lower levels of self-compassion and an earlier onset of disease were all related to elevated levels of hyper-arousal in individuals diagnosed with scleroderma. A regression equation showed all three contributed significantly to the experienced hyper-arousal. The findings suggest that greater self-compassion may be a determining factor in how earlier emotional experiences are managed and in predicting lower hyper-arousal in terms of this disease.
Mint Extract Present Antioxidant Action on the Erythrocytes of Dairy Cows Suffering from Mastitis?
Authors: Possenti Cecilia Gabriela Rubert , Horn Roberta Cattaneo , Diaz Jorge Damián Stumpfs , Seifert Queli Cristina Sostisso , Golle Diego Pascoal , Koefender Jana , Mori Natacha Cossettin , Júnior Vanderlei Silva Ribas
Published: October 2016

Bovine Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands that represents important economic losses in milk production. As in other pathologies, medicinal plants emerged as an important alternative for treatment of this condition. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of the extract of Mentha arvensis L. on the erythrocytes of healthy dairy cows (P1); of dairy cows with mastitis without previous treatment (P2); and of dairy cows with mastitis and previously treated with antibiotics (P3). The levels of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), of the protein carbonylation (PC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were analyzed in the cows’ erythrocytes before and after treatment with the extract of Mentha. This study demonstrated an occurrence of oxidative stress in the cows with mastitis. The mint extract promoted an increase in GSH levels combined with a decrease in the levels of oxidative markers, especially in cows with mastitis without previous antibiotic treatment.
Assessment of Fisherfolk Information Seeking Behaviour with Mobile Phone for Improve Extension and Advisory Services
Authors: Ifejika Philip I.
Published: October 2016

The study assessed information seeking behaviour of fisherfolk with mobile phone in fishing communities around Kainji Lake basin, Nigeria. Primary data was generated through interview schedule from 165 respondents and analysed with descriptive and factor analysis. Result revealed that mobile phone improved information seeking behaviour of fisherfolk with associates in the fishing communities than with outsiders in government establishment. Kinds of information sought with mobile phone cut across economic, social and health issues in fish market, social gathering, fish catch/gear, health, weather and security related matters. Pattern of information seeking revealed regular use of close associates than extension workers. Close associates mostly contacted with mobile phone for information were fellow fisherfolk (64.2%), family members (64.8%) and community members (55.8%) but weak with fisheries institute (4.8%) and extension agents (0.6%). Fisherfolk rated voice call as the most effective medium in information seeking over flashing, SMS, voice message, video and pictures. Result of factor analysis categorised the challenges into poor financial status, inadequate knowledge and skill, poor network services and lack of energy to recharge mobile phone batteries. It is recommended that extension providers should use the established effective medium and pattern of information behaviour to package and disseminate messages to meet needs of fisherfolk in the lake basin. Interim measure is to provide tool free mobile lines to improve contact and trust to strengthen rapport. Also, mobile network operators should reduce tariff, improve quality of services as well as incorporate training in their social responsibility and promotion strategies for fishing communities to benefit.
Dust Reduction in Bauxite Waste: Role of Gypsum, Carbonation, and Microbial Decomposition
Authors: Harris Mark Anglin
Published: October 2016

Producing alumina by the Bayer Process creates fine air borne red dust which devalues property and causes irritation to the human respiratory system. Aggregation of such inorganic particles was proposed as a dust-inhibiting corrective. Resistance to breakdown under simulated rain suggests a lower number of dust-size particles after rain. Samples of red mud waste (1) treated 10 years before the study at the 0-15 cm depth zone with 40 t ha-1 of gypsum (2) from the subjacent 15-30 cm zone, were collected, crushed and passed through a 0.5 mm diameter sieve. Leaves from Acacia senensis (a legume) were finely chopped to < 1 mm and thoroughly mixed with the sieved bauxite waste at 25- and 50%, and the samples incubated for 6 weeks at ambient room temperatures, at 60% soil water-holding capacity. To determine the fraction of potential dust, the treated samples were submerged in de-ionized water for several days until there was no change in discoloration (due to clay dislocation) of the water. The samples were removed from the water and the water evaporated and the residues dried and weighed. In total, the dust-reducing capabilities of the treatments in descending order of proficiency were: 50% phytogenic > 25% phytogenic > 0-15 cm soil depth non-phytogenic > 15-30 cm-depth non-phytogenic. The 50% phytogenic-treatment reduced potential particles of fugitive dust by 70% over the untreated controls and 95% over the crushed-only (subjacent red mud; no organics added) samples. All in all, phyto-organics increased average particle size to > 100 µm by flocculation, thereby creating stable agglomerates which resisted disintegration and breakdown under simulated rain. Reducing the concentration of < 75 μm particles in the air will decrease morbidity due to respiratory illnesses in surrounding populations, harmful effects on vegetation, and the defacement of buildings. This treatment promises the use of gypsum + phyto-organics for reducing the emanation of surface dust from red mud waste sites onto surrounding areas.
Hydrocarbon-Contamination of Soils: The Potential of Sodium Clays to Decelerate Soil Toxicants
Authors: Harris Mark Anglin
Published: October 2016

Hydrocarbon-contamination can change hydraulic conductivity (HC) in soils, and hence increase the spreading rate of aqueous toxicants in the ground. A constant head permeameter used in the laboratory to measure HC of soils taken from near the Pitch Lake in Trinidad determined that the HC exceeded that of a reference soil having “normal HC” for a loam. Although water moved rapidly through it, the Pitch Lake soil (PLS) remained dry due to water repellence. Treatment consisted of either of two red mud bauxite wastes mixed at 25 and 50% w/w with PLS at air dry. One of the bauxite wastes had undergone treatment with gypsum several years before and hence contained a greater proportion of calcium ions compared to the other red mud which contained more sodium ions. At 25% w/w the non-gypsum-treated red mud waste decreased HC of the PLS by 50%, and at 50% w/w caused a 10-fold decrease of HC on the PLS. The gypsum-treated red mud waste had no effect on the HC of the PLS. The drastic decrease in HC of the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil implies blocking of hydraulic channels by inorganic particles. The high levels of Na+ released in the Bayer beneficiation process dispersed and released fine < 5 mµ clay particles from the non-gypsum-treated red muds. This suggests that the rapid movement of aqueous pollutants in such hydrocarbon-polluted soils could be similarly curtailed under field conditions.
Environmental Contamination from Industrial Bitter Cassava: Implications for Moisture-Pressure Combination Treatments
Authors: Harris Mark Anglin
Published: October 2016

Commercial processing of cassava produces vast quantities of cyanide-laced waste which can adversely infiltrate water supplies and air breathed by factory workers. This study aimed to determine the comparative concentration of cyanogens in the cassava peel as opposed to that of the pith and the effect of the moisture-pressure combination treatments on cyanide concentration. A semi-quantitiative test using the picrate-spectrophotometer method was applied, where, at room temperature in a closed vial, reactions caused liberation of HCN which reacts with a picrate paper. The results showed a 25% higher level of cyanogen concentration in casssava peels compared to that of blended peels and pith. Treatments released cyanide from samples in the order: 2 h wetting at 50 °C + pressing > 4 h wetting at 25 °C + pressing = 2 h wetting at 40 °C + pressing > 2 h wet at 25 °C + pressing = 4h wet at 25 °C > 12 h pressing. In this manner, wetting for 2 h at 50 °C followed by pressure for 12 h released cyanide by at least 20% more than that of any other treatment. The combination of moisture and pressure enhanced the contact time between linamarin and linamarase to increase the release of HCN. Physiological cyanide overload in organisms from cassava processing occurs in water, land, and air. Therefore the reduction in concentration observed in this study, if applied at an early stage of the cassava processing, should reduce the rate of morbidity in environments at risk.
Genetic Divergence among Camu-Camu Plant Populations Based on the Initial Characteristics of the Plants
Authors: Ricardo Manuel Bardales-Lozano , Chagas Edvan Alves , Smiderle Oscar , Carlos Abanto-Rodriguez , Chagas Pollyana Cardoso , Mota Filho Adamor Barbosa , Souza Olisson Mesquita , Cordeiro Antonio Carlos Centeno
Published: October 2016

The objective in the present work was to evaluate the genetic diversity among 15 indigenous populations of camu-camu plants, identifying important characteristics in the evaluation of genetic divergence, based on the initial characteristics of the seedlings. Seeds extracted from fruits deriving from fifteen indigenous populations of camu-camu were collected. The experimental design was entirely random, with fifteen treatments (populations), and fifteen repetitions (each sub-sample), considering 30 seeds per subsample as an experimental unit. At 40 days after sowing the following were evaluated: the percentage of emergence, the index of emergence velocity, the average time of germination, the height of the seedling and the number of leaves. The data obtained was submitted to variance analysis, and the averages were grouped by the Scott and Knott (1974) test. The genetic diversity was studied according to the Tocher grouping method, based on the Mahalanobis distance (D2ii) and canonical variables. The fifteen populations are divergent among themselves and the Rio Branco Estirão do Veado, Rio Branco Onofre and Igarapé Agua Boa populations are indicated to have hybridization with other populations due to the high divergence, as well as the rates of emergence and vigor of the seedlings. The height of the seedlings, percentage and speed of emergence, are those that most indicate genetic divergence. The measuring techniques of genetic divergence, canonical variables Mahalanobis distances are useful and corroborating in the evaluation of genetic divergence of the camu-camu plant.
The Influence Factors Decomposition of Grain Output Increase in China: 2003-2014
Authors: Hua Xiaoquan
Published: October 2016

As the world’s most populous country taking up 18.84% of the world’s total population, China’s grain supply has attracted high concerns in the world. This article takes the grain output increase in China from 2003 to 2014 as the research object, and wants to explore the influence factors of China’s grain growth and spatial effect analysis. It employs LMDI method to decompose China’s total grain output increase during 2003-2014. The increase of OFPPU paid maximum contribution to China’s total grain output increase among ACL, MCI and GPP. The conclusion of China’s grain output provincial spatial analysis is that the six provinces including Heilongjiang, Henan, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Anhui and Shandong, contributed 62.2% share to China’s increase. The results of predicted OFPPU by Exponential Smoothing Method of Hoter-Winter No-Seasonal are that grain growth in China can meet requirements of grain security for China’s population growth and living improvement. The author wishes China can increase investment on land consolidation and renovate facilities for farmland and water conservancy projects.
Helminth Parasites of Lane Snapper, Lutjanus synagris from Santiaguillo Reef, Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Montoya-Mendoza Jesús , Castañeda-Chávez María Del Refugio , Lango-Reynoso Fabiola , Rojas-Castañeda Salvador
Published: October 2016

In 51 specimens of lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris, captured in Santiaguillo Reef, Veracruz Reef National Park System, State of Veracruz, in the Southern Gulf of Mexico, a total of 25 helminth species were recovered, as follows: 9 digeneans (8 adults, and 1 metacercaria), 7 monogeneans, 6 nematodes (4 adults, and 2 larvae), 2 cestodes (both larvae), and 1 acanthocephalan (juvenile). Out of the 25 species, 11 are new host records; 2 have prevalence > 50%, and mean intensity > 4.7; Haliotrematoides cornigerum (monogenean) had the highest prevalence, 94.11%, followed by Euryhaliotrema tubocirrus with prevalence of 66.67%. Richness (S = 25) and diversity (Shannon index H’ = 2.13) at component community, and endoparasites infracommunity level (S = 6.27 ± 2.5, Brillouin index H = 1.07 ± 0.42), and ectoparasites infracommunity level (S = 3.6875 ± 1.87, Brillouin index H = 0.74 ± 0.4), were similar to those found in other marine fish. Results suggests that the host feeding habits determine the endoparasites composition, while the ectoparasites composition is associated to the environmental conditions.
Adoption and Use of Precision Agriculture in Brazil: Perception of Growers and Service Dealership
Authors: Borghi Emerson , Avanzi Junior C. , Bortolon Leandro , Luchiari Junior Ariovaldo , Bortolon Elisandra S. O.
Published: October 2016

Precision agriculture (PA) is growing considerably in Brazil. However, there is a lack of information regarding to PA adoption and use in the country. This study sought to: (i) investigate the perception of growers and service dealership about PA technologies; (ii) identify constraints to PA adoption; (iii) obtain information that might be useful to motivate producers and agronomists to use PA technologies in the crop production systems. A web-based survey approach method was used to collect data from farmers and services dealership involved with PA in several crop production regions of Brazil. We found that the growth of PA was linked to the agronomic and economic gains observed in the field; however, in some situations, the producers still can not measure the real PA impact in producer system. Economic aspects coupled with the difficulty to use of software and equipment proportioned by the lack of technical training of field teams, may be the main factors limiting the PA expansion in many producing regions of Brazil. Precision agriculture work carried out by dealership in Brazil is quite recent. The most services offered is gridding soil sampling, field mapping for lime and fertilizer application at variable rate. Many producers already have PA equipment loaded on their machines, but little explored, also restricting to fertilizers and lime application. Looking at the currently existing technologies and services offered by dealership, the PA use in Brazil could be better exploited, and therefore, a more rational use of non-renewable resources.
A Standalone but not Lonely Language: Chinese Linguistic Environment and Education in Singapore Context
Authors: Min Huang , Kangdi Cheng
Published: October 2016

Bilingual education policy in Singapore permits the students learn both English as working language and mother tongues, such as Chinese, as L2 anchoring to culture heritage. Starting from historical and sociolinguistic reasons, this paper is intended to provide a panoramic view of Chinese education in Singapore, clarify and compare Chinese education syllabi on different levels from primary schools to pre-university schools, cover social movement support on promoting Chinese learning and use in this multilingual society. Meanwhile, Singapore’s success in bilingual education cannot hide its own problems. The status of Chinese dialects, the competitive role of English, the rational and practicality for proficient bilingual users, the choice of teaching methodologies between L1 and L2, are all remaining open to further discussing and probing for language policy making and modification in the future.
Evaluating of the Effectiveness of Television Advertisement of Life Insurance and Investing in Ma Insurance Company
Authors: Rahmani Nima
Published: October 2016

Nowadays, corporates require purposeful and effective marketing activities to survive and sell their goods and services in this ever-growing competitive world. Marketing is an issue having a significant role in marketing process of a corporate and it is dedicated a huge amount of marketing budget. Measuring effectiveness can be implemented through considering three steps: advertising inputs (e.g. advertising intensity, advertising content, and advertising budget); mental processing of customers during and after the ads broadcast; and finally advertising outcomes (e.g. resulting change in sales, income, and profit). In addition to the measurement of ads effectiveness on the customers mind, in the present study the impact of such ads on the sales was also tackled based on the AIDA hierarchy of effects model. Four hypotheses were considered for testing the research model. After the reliability and validity confirmation by, respectively, Cronbach's alpha and content validity, 400 questionnaires were distributed amongst the customers of “Ma” insurance company in Tehran, chosen base on the simple random sampling.  Due to the rejection of data normality hypothesis, two Wilcoxon non-parametric tests, namely sign test and signed-rank test, were used. After statistical tests, hypotheses 3 and 4 (i.e. ads effectiveness on individuals willingness and action) were rejected. Finally, following the interpretations of results obtained from data analysis, the practical recommendations were presented for corporates and advertisers.
Keck in Capital? Redefining ‘Restrictions’ in the ‘Golden Shares’ Case Law
Authors: Antonaki Ilektra
Published: October 2016

Keck in Capital? Redefining ‘Restrictions’ in the ‘Golden Shares’ Case Law

The evolution of the case law in the field of free movement of goods has been marked by consecutive changes in the legal tests applied by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the determination of the existence of a trade restriction. Starting with the broad Dassonville and Cassis de Dijon definition of MEEQR (measures having equivalent effect to a quantitative restriction), the Court subsequently introduced the Keck-concept of ‘selling arrangements’, which allowed for more regulatory autonomy of the Member States, but proved insufficient to capture disguised trade restrictions. Ultimately, a refined ‘market access’ test was adopted, qualified by the requirement of a ‘substantial’ hindrance on inter-State trade. Contrary to the free movement of goods, the free movement of capital has not undergone the same evolutionary process. Focusing on the ‘golden shares’ case law, this article questions the broad interpretation of ‘capital restrictions’ and seeks to investigate whether the underlying rationale of striking down any special right that could have a potential deterrent effect on inter-State investment is compatible with the constitutional foundations of negative integration. So far the Court seems to promote a company law regime that endorses shareholders’ primacy, lacking, however, the constitutional and institutional legitimacy to decide on such a highly political question. It is thus suggested that a refined test should be adopted that would capture measures departing from ordinary company law and hindering market access of foreign investors, while at the same time allowing Member States to determine their corporate governance systems.
New narrow-range endemic land snails from the sky islands of northern South Africa (Gastropoda: Streptaxidae and Urocyclidae)
Authors: Herbert David G.
Published: October 2016

One new genus and five new species of land snails are described from high altitude, insular, Afrotemperate forest habitats in northern South Africa. The distribution of these species is discussed in relation to other narrowly endemic land snails occurring in this and neighbouring regions. The new genus is Ptilototheca gen. nov.; the five new species are: Gulella davisae sp. nov., G. hadroglossa sp. nov., Ptilototheca soutpansbergensis gen. et sp. nov., Sheldonia monsmaripi sp. nov. and S. wolkbergensis sp. nov.
Rationale for Determining the Functional Potency of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Preventing Regulated Cell Death for Therapeutic Use
Authors: Naji Abderrahim , Suganuma Narufumi , Espagnolle Nicolas , Yagyu Ken-ichi , Baba Nobuyasu , Sensebé Luc , Deschaseaux Frédéric
Published: October 2016

Mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs) are being investigated for treating degenerative and inflammatory disorders because of their reparative and immunomodulatory properties. Intricate mechanisms relate cell death processes with immune responses, which have implications for degenerative and inflammatory conditions. We review the therapeutic value of MSCs in terms of preventing regulated cell death (RCD). When cells identify an insult, specific intracellular pathways are elicited for execution of RCD processes, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. To some extent, exacerbated RCD can provoke an intense inflammatory response and vice versa. Emerging studies are focusing on the molecular mechanisms deployed by MSCs to ameliorate the survival, bioenergetics, and functions of unfit immune or nonimmune cells. Given these aspects, and in light of MSC actions in modulating cell death processes, we suggest the use of novel functional in vitro assays to ensure the potency of MSCs for preventing RCD. Such analyses should be associated with existing functional assays measuring the anti-inflammatory capabilities of MSCs in vitro. MSCs selected on the basis of two in vitro functional criteria (i.e., prevention of inflammation and RCD) could possess optimal therapeutic efficacy in vivo. In addition, we underline the implications of these perspectives in clinical studies of MSC therapy, with particular focus on acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Remarks on a construction of Duistermaat
Authors: Small Anthony
Published: October 2016

A construction of Duistermaat's, in which an auxiliary holomorphic curve in the line bundle $\mathcal O(4)$ on $\mathsf{P}_1$ is associated to a minimal surface in $R^3$, is described in a new way and generalised to minimal surfaces in $R^n$. If the minimal surface is complete and has finite total curvature then the auxiliary curve is algebraic.
Foxby Equivalence and Cotorsion Theories relative to Semi-dualizing Modules
Authors: Enochs Edgar , Yassemi Siamak
Published: October 2016

Foxby duality has proven to be an important tool in studying the category of modules over a local Cohen-Macaulay ring admitting a dualizing module. Recently the notion of a semi-dualizing module has been given [2]. Given a semi-dualizing module the relative Foxby classes can be defined and there is still an associated Foxby duality. We consider these classes (separately called the Auslander and Bass classes) and two naturally defined subclasses which are equivalent to the full subcategories of injective and flat modules. We consider the question of when these subclasses form part of one of the two classes of a cotorsion theory. We show that when this is the case, the associated cotorsion theory is not only complete but in fact is perfect. We show by examples that even when the semi-dualizing module is in fact dualizing over a local Cohen-Macaulay ring it both may or may not occur that we get this associated cotorsion theory.
Lower bounds for quasianalytic functions, II The Bernstein quasianalytic functions.
Authors: Borichev A. , Nazarov F. , Sodin M.
Published: October 2016

Let $\mathscr{F}$ be a class of functions with the uniqueness property: if $f \in \mathscr{F}$ vanishes on a set $E$ of positive measure, then $f$ is the zero function. In many instances, we would like to have a quantitative version of this property, e.g. a lower bound for $|f|$ outside a small exceptional set. Such estimates are well-known and useful for polynomials, complex- and real-analytic functions, exponential polynomials. In this work we prove similar results for the Denjoy-Carleman and the Bernstein classes of quasianalytic functions. In the first part, we considered quasianalytically smooth functions. Here, we deal with classes of functions characterized by exponentially fast approximation by polynomials whose degrees belong to a given very lacunar sequence. We also prove the polynomial spreading lemma and a comparison lemma which are of a certain interest on their own.
Lower bounds for quasianalytic functions, I. How to control smooth functions
Authors: Nazarov F. , Sodin M. , Volberg A.
Published: October 2016

Let $\mathscr{F}$ be a class of functions with the uniqueness property: if $f\in \mathscr{F}$ vanishes on a set $E$ of positive measure, then $f$ is the zero function. In many instances, we would like to have a quantitative version of this property, e.g. the estimate from below for the norm of the restriction operator $f\mapsto f\big|_E$ or, equivalently, a lower bound for $|f|$ outside a small exceptional set. Such estimates are well-known and useful for polynomials, complex- and real-analytic functions, exponential polynomials. In this work we prove similar results for the Denjoy-Carleman and the Bernstein classes of quasianalytic functions. In the first part, we consider quasianalytically smooth functions. This part relies upon Bang's approach and includes the proofs of relevant results of Bang. In the second part, which is to be published separately, we deal with classes of functions characterized by exponentially fast approximation by polynomials whose degrees belong to a given very lacunar sequence.The proofs are based on the elementary calculus technique.
On the Diophantine System $x^2 - Dy^2 = 1-D$ and $x=2z^2-1$
Authors: Le Maohua
Published: October 2016

Let $D$ be a positive integer such that $D-1$ is an odd prime power. In this paper we give an elementary method to find all positive integer solutions $(x, y, z)$ of the system of equations $x^2-Dy^2=1-D$ and $x=2z^2-1$. As a consequence, we determine all solutions of the equations for $D=6$ and $8$.
On the automorphism group of certain simple $C^*$-algebras
Authors: Mygind Jesper
Published: October 2016

We show that the information contained in $KL(A,B)$ is determined by other invariants when $A$ and $B$ are certain simple unital projectionless $C^*$-algebras. This allows us to compute the group of automorphisms modulo the group of approximately inner automorphisms in terms of the Elliott invariant.
Barbeau, le photographe-enquêteur
Authors: Lahoud Pierre
Published: October 2016

Marius Barbeau a mené plusieurs carrières de front : anthropologue des cultures autochtones, folkloriste en quête de chansons et de contes au Québec, communicateur diffuseur et commissaire d’expositions, muséologue et conservateur. Son legs est d’une richesse fascinante et exceptionnelle. On connaissait moins de lui le photographe de terrain qu’il a été et la grande qualité de son oeuvre photographique. À l’exemple de ces grands photographes qui nous ont apporté des témoignages extraordinaires et émouvants, Barbeau a parcouru le Canada à la recherche de scènes en voie de disparition. Mais au-delà du témoignage photographique, il émerge une photographie à la fois esthétique et documentaire dont il fallait rendre compte pour situer autrement ce grand homme dans l’Histoire. Pêcheur d’images représentant l’humain dans son quotidien, avec la patience du pêcheur qui l’a bien servi, Barbeau se souciait évidemment de la dimension humaine, mais il accordait aussi de l’importance au décor, qui donne un sens à l’image et la positionne ainsi dans le temps et l’espace.
Du sirop d’érable dans les veines. Acériculteurs et acéricultrices de la Beauce
Authors: Genest Bernard
Published: October 2016

À l’été 2014, Louise Décarie et Bernard Genest ont rencontré une douzaine d’acériculteurs et acéricultrices de la Beauce dans le but de compléter leurs dossiers de candidature dans le cadre du Programme de valorisation des porteurs de traditions de la Société québécoise d’ethnologie (Sqe). Dans son article, Genest rend compte de ces visites effectuées auprès de producteurs confrontés à l’émergence d’une industrie qui progresse au rythme d’importantes avancées technologiques dans un contexte de mise en marché qui ne favorise ni le savoir-faire, ni l’origine du produit, ni ses propriétés pédologiques. Après une brève présentation des informateurs et de leurs entreprises, l’auteur invite à une réflexion sur le maintien de la pratique à travers le changement et sur l’avenir du sirop d’érable dans un marché mondial de plus en plus compétitif. Le défi ne serait-il pas d’en faire véritablement un produit du terroir emblématique du Québec et de ses régions ?
Claire Quintal se raconte
Authors: Perreault Robert B.
Published: October 2016

En petits nombres, tout d’abord pendant la Révolution américaine (1775-1781) et à la suite de l’Insurrection de 1837-1838 au Bas-Canada, mais surtout par milliers entre la Guerre de Sécession américaine (1861-1865) et la Grande Dépression des années 1930, des Québécois à la recherche d’une meilleure vie s’établissent en Nouvelle-Angleterre. De nos jours, leurs descendants, les Franco-Américains, se chiffrent à plus de trois millions, soit presque la moitié de la population actuelle du Québec. En vue de sauvegarder et de promouvoir avec plus ou moins de succès la langue française et la culture franco-américaine, tout en s’intégrant à la vie étatsunienne, on fonde des institutions de tout genre. Professeure émérite de français, auteure, traductrice, présidente de la Fédération féminine franco-américaine et directrice fondatrice de l’Institut français d’Assumption College, Claire Quintal figure parmi ces personnages dynamiques à qui l’on doit ce miracle qu’est la minorité francophone toujours en existence en Nouvelle-Angleterre aujourd’hui.
Insights into HIV-1 proviral transcription from integrative structure and dynamics of the Tat:AFF4:P-TEFb:TAR complex
Authors: Schulze-Gahmen Ursula , Echeverria Ignacia , Stjepanovic Goran , Bai Yun , Lu Huasong , Schneidman-Duhovny Dina , Doudna Jennifer A , Zhou Qiang , Sali Andrej , Hurley James H
Published: October 2016

HIV-1 Tat hijacks the human superelongation complex (SEC) to promote proviral transcription. Here we report the 5.9 Å structure of HIV-1 TAR in complex with HIV-1 Tat and human AFF4, CDK9, and CycT1. The TAR central loop contacts the CycT1 Tat-TAR recognition motif (TRM) and the second Tat Zn2+-binding loop. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) shows that AFF4 helix 2 is stabilized in the TAR complex despite not touching the RNA, explaining how it enhances TAR binding to the SEC 50-fold. RNA SHAPE and SAXS data were used to help model the extended (Tat Arginine-Rich Motif) ARM, which enters the TAR major groove between the bulge and the central loop. The structure and functional assays collectively support an integrative structure and a bipartite binding model, wherein the TAR central loop engages the CycT1 TRM and compact core of Tat, while the TAR major groove interacts with the extended Tat ARM.
Advances in X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) diffraction data processing applied to the crystal structure of the synaptotagmin-1 / SNARE complex
Authors: Lyubimov Artem Y , Uervirojnangkoorn Monarin , Zeldin Oliver B , Zhou Qiangjun , Zhao Minglei , Brewster Aaron S , Michels-Clark Tara , Holton James M , Sauter Nicholas K , Weis William I , Brunger Axel T
Published: October 2016

X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) reduce the effects of radiation damage on macromolecular diffraction data and thereby extend the limiting resolution. Previously, we adapted classical post-refinement techniques to XFEL diffraction data to produce accurate diffraction data sets from a limited number of diffraction images (Uervirojnangkoorn et al., 2015), and went on to use these techniques to obtain a complete data set from crystals of the synaptotagmin-1 / SNARE complex and to determine the structure at 3.5 Å resolution (Zhou et al., 2015). Here, we describe new advances in our methods and present a reprocessed XFEL data set of the synaptotagmin-1 / SNARE complex. The reprocessing produced small improvements in electron density maps and the refined atomic model. The maps also contained more information than those of a lower resolution (4.1 Å) synchrotron data set. Processing a set of simulated XFEL diffraction images revealed that our methods yield accurate data and atomic models.
Eco-HAB as a fully automated and ecologically relevant assessment of social impairments in mouse models of autism
Authors: Puścian Alicja , Łęski Szymon , Kasprowicz Grzegorz , Winiarski Maciej , Borowska Joanna , Nikolaev Tomasz , Boguszewski Paweł M , Lipp Hans-Peter , Knapska Ewelina
Published: October 2016

Eco-HAB is an open source, RFID-based system for automated measurement and analysis of social preference and in-cohort sociability in mice. The system closely follows murine ethology. It requires no contact between a human experimenter and tested animals, overcoming the confounding factors that lead to irreproducible assessment of murine social behavior between laboratories. In Eco-HAB, group-housed animals live in a spacious, four-compartment apparatus with shadowed areas and narrow tunnels, resembling natural burrows. Eco-HAB allows for assessment of the tendency of mice to voluntarily spend time together in ethologically relevant mouse group sizes. Custom-made software for automated tracking, data extraction, and analysis enables quick evaluation of social impairments. The developed protocols and standardized behavioral measures demonstrate high replicability. Unlike classic three-chambered sociability tests, Eco-HAB provides measurements of spontaneous, ecologically relevant social behaviors in group-housed animals. Results are obtained faster, with less manpower, and without confounding factors.
Optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser at 374.9 nm with an electrically conducting n-type distributed Bragg reflector
Authors: Liu Yuh-Shiuan , Saniul Haq Abul Fazal Muhammad , Mehta Karan , Kao Tsung-Ting , Wang Shuo , Xie Hongen , Shen Shyh-Chiang , Yoder P. Douglas , Ponce Fernando A. , Detchprohm Theeradetch , Dupuis Russell D.
Published: October 2016

An optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with an electrically conducting n-type distributed Bragg reflector was achieved at 374.9 nm. An epitaxially grown 40-pair n-type AlGaN/GaN distributed Bragg reflector was used as the bottom mirror, while the top mirror was formed by a dielectric distributed Bragg reflector composed of seven pairs of HfO2/SiO2. A numerical simulation for the optical mode clearly demonstrated that a high confinement factor was achieved and the threshold pumping power density at room temperature was measured as 1.64 MW/cm2. The achieved optically pumped laser demonstrates the potential of utilizing an n-type distributed Bragg reflector for surface-emitting optical devices.
Non-problematic Situations in Social Workers’ and GPs’ Practice
Authors: Rexvid Devin , Evertsson Lars
Published: October 2016

This study aims to describe and analyze written accounts of non-problematic situations by 28 social workers and 24 general practitioners (GPs). The results show that non-problematic situations were connected to professionals’ control of the intervention process. Non-problematic situations were described by social workers as situations where they had control of the relationship with the client either by the use of coercive means or by the client’s active cooperation. GPs referred to non-problematic situations as situations where they had control of the intervention process mainly by the use of professional knowledge. One main conclusion is that the ability to control the intervention process through control of the relationship with the client may be of significance to those professions where a central part of the professional jurisdiction involves changing clients’ behaviors. This conclusion means that professional knowledge is not the only way to control the professional intervention process.
Diversity of planktonic fish larvae along a latitudinal gradient in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean estimated through DNA barcodes
Authors: Ardura Alba , Morote Elvira , Kochzius Marc , Garcia-Vazquez Eva
Published: October 2016

Mid-trophic pelagic fish are essential components of marine ecosystems because they represent the link between plankton and higher predators. Moreover, they are the basis of the most important fisheries resources; for example, in African waters. In this study, we have sampled pelagic fish larvae in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean along a latitudinal gradient between 37°N and 2°S. We have employed Bongo nets for plankton sampling and sorted visually fish and fish larvae. Using the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) as a DNA barcode, we have identified 44 OTUs down to species level that correspond to 14 families, with Myctophidae being the most abundant. A few species were cosmopolitan and others latitude-specific, as was expected. The latitudinal pattern of diversity did not exhibit a temperate-tropical cline; instead, it was likely correlated with environmental conditions with a decline in low-oxygen zones. Importantly, gaps and inconsistencies in reference DNA databases impeded accurate identification to the species level of 49% of the individuals. Fish sampled from tropical latitudes and some orders, such as Perciformes, Myctophiformes and Stomiiformes, were largely unidentified due to incomplete references. Some larvae were identified based on morphology and COI analysis for comparing time and costs employed from each methodology. These results suggest the need of reinforcing DNA barcoding reference datasets of Atlantic bathypelagic tropical fish that, as main prey of top predators, are crucial for ecosystem-based management of fisheries resources.