bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earth Orbit v2.1: a 3-D visualization and analysis model of Earth's orbit, Milankovitch cycles and insolation
Authors: Kostadinov T. S. , Gilb R.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. Milankovitch theory postulates that periodic variability of Earth's orbital elements is a major climate forcing mechanism, causing, for example, the contemporary glacial–interglacial cycles. There are three Milankovitch orbital parameters: orbital eccentricity, precession and obliquity. The interaction of the amplitudes, periods and phases of these parameters controls the spatio-temporal patterns of incoming solar radiation (insolation) and the timing and duration of the seasons. This complexity makes Earth–Sun geometry and Milankovitch theory difficult to teach effectively. Here, we present "Earth Orbit v2.1": an astronomically precise and accurate model that offers 3-D visualizations of Earth's orbital geometry, Milankovitch parameters and the ensuing insolation forcing. The model is developed in MATLAB® as a user-friendly graphical user interface. Users are presented with a choice between the Berger (1978a) and Laskar et al. (2004) astronomical solutions for eccentricity, obliquity and precession. A "demo" mode is also available, which allows the Milankovitch parameters to be varied independently of each other, so that users can isolate the effects of each parameter on orbital geometry, the seasons, and insolation. A 3-D orbital configuration plot, as well as various surface and line plots of insolation and insolation anomalies on various time and space scales are produced. Insolation computations use the model's own orbital geometry with no additional a priori input other than the Milankovitch parameter solutions. Insolation output and the underlying solar declination computation are successfully validated against the results of Laskar et al. (2004) and Meeus (1998), respectively. The model outputs some ancillary parameters as well, e.g., Earth's radius-vector length, solar declination and day length for the chosen date and latitude. Time-series plots of the Milankovitch parameters and several relevant paleoclimatological data sets can be produced. Both research and pedagogical applications are envisioned for the model.
Sensitivity of simulated CO2 concentration to regridding of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions
Authors: Zhang X. , Gurney K. R. , Rayner P. , Liu Y. , Asefi-Najafabady S.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. Errors in the specification or utilization of fossil fuel CO2 emissions within carbon budget or atmospheric CO2 inverse studies can alias the estimation of biospheric and oceanic carbon exchange. A key component in the simulation of CO2 concentrations arising from fossil fuel emissions is the spatial distribution of the emission near coastlines. Finite grid resolution can give rise to mismatches between the emissions and simulated atmospheric dynamics which differ over land or water. We test these mismatches by examining simulated global atmospheric CO2 concentration driven by two different approaches to regridding fossil fuel CO2 emissions. The two approaches are: (1) a commonly-used method that allocates emissions to gridcells with no attempt to ensure dynamical consistency with atmospheric transport; (2) an improved method that reallocates emissions to gridcells to ensure dynamically consistent results. Results show large spatial and temporal differences in the simulated CO2 concentration when comparing these two approaches. The emissions difference ranges from −30.3 Tg C gridcell−1 yr−1 (−3.39 kg C m−2 yr−1) to +30.0 Tg C gridcell−1 yr−1 (+2.6 kg C m−2 yr−1) along coastal margins. Maximum simulated annual mean CO2 concentration differences at the surface exceed ±6 ppm at various locations and times. Examination of the current CO2 monitoring locations during the local afternoon, consistent with inversion modeling system sampling and measurement protocols, finds maximum hourly differences at 38 stations exceed ±0.10 ppm with individual station differences exceeding −32 ppm. The differences implied by not accounting for this dynamical consistency problem are largest at monitoring sites proximal to large coastal urban areas and point sources. These results suggest that studies comparing simulated to observed atmospheric CO2 concentration, such as atmospheric CO2 inversions, must take measures to correct for this potential problem and ensure flux and dynamical consistency.
On the influence of spatial sampling on climate networks
Authors: Molkenthin N. , Rehfeld K. , Stolbova V. , Tupikina L. , Kurths J.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. Climate networks are constructed from climate time series data using correlation measures. It is widely accepted that the geographical proximity, as well as other geographical features such as ocean and atmospheric currents, have a large impact on the observable time-series similarity. Therefore it is to be expected that the spatial sampling will influence the reconstructed network. Here we investigate this by comparing analytical flow networks, networks generated with the START model and networks from temperature data from the Asian monsoon domain. We evaluate them on a regular grid, a grid with added random jittering and two variations of clustered sampling. We find that the impact of the spatial sampling on most network measures only distorts the plots if the node distribution is significantly inhomogeneous. As a simple diagnostic measure for the detection of inhomogeneous sampling we suggest the Voronoi cell size distribution.
Physical controls on the storage of methane in landfast sea ice
Authors: Zhou J. , Tison J.-L. , Carnat G. , Geilfus N.-X. , Delille B.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. We report on methane (CH4) dynamics in landfast sea ice, brine and under-ice seawater at Barrow in 2009. The CH4 concentrations in under-ice water ranged from 25.9 to 116.4 nmol L−1sw, indicating a supersaturation of 700 to 3100% relative to the atmosphere. In comparison, the CH4 concentrations in sea ice ranged from 3.4 to 17.2 nmol L−1ice and the deduced CH4 concentrations in brine from 13.2 to 677.7 nmol L−1brine. We investigated the processes underlying the difference in CH4 concentrations between sea ice, brine and under-ice water and suggest that biological controls on the storage of CH4 in ice were minor in comparison to the physical controls. Two physical processes regulated the storage of CH4 in our landfast ice samples: bubble formation within the ice and sea ice permeability. Gas bubble formation due to brine concentration and solubility decrease favoured the accumulation of CH4 in the ice at the beginning of ice growth. CH4 retention in sea ice was then twice as efficient as that of salt; this also explains the overall higher CH4 concentrations in brine than in the under-ice water. As sea ice thickened, gas bubble formation became less efficient, CH4 was then mainly trapped in the dissolved state. The increase of sea ice permeability during ice melt marked the end of CH4 storage.
Linseed, microalgae or fish oil dietary supplementation affects performance and quality characteristics of light lambs
Authors: De la Fuente-Vazquez Jesus , Díaz-Díaz-Chirón M. Teresa , Pérez-Marcos Concepción , Cañeque Vicente , Sánchez-González Carlos I. , Alvarez-Acero Inmaculada , Fernández-Bermejo Cesar , Rivas-Cañedo Ana , Lauzurica Sara
Published: June 2014

The aim of this work was to improve the fatty acid profile of meat from light lamb, frequently reared in Spain and in other Mediterranean countries. A total of 44 light lambs fed different n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids sources were studied: control (C) (palm oil), extruded linseed (L), extruded linseed mixed with microalgae (LM) and fish oil (FO). The productive performance from 14.7 to 26.2 kg of live weights and meat quality characteristics during refrigerated storage were assessed. Lambs fed FO showed lower feed intake (p <0.001), average daily gain (p <0.001) and higher feed conversion ratio (p <0.001) than lambs from the other treatments. Fish oil meat had the lowest (p <0.01) protein proportion and the highest (p <0.001) C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 proportions, while L or LM produced the highest (p <0.001) C18:3n-3 deposition. Fish oil meat had higher (p <0.05) L* and lower (p <0.001) a* than meats from the other treatments. After 7 days of storage, FO meat showed the highest TBARS (p <0.001), while C meat showed similar value to 0 days of storage. Additionally, FO underwent higher microbial growth after 7 days of storage as compared to the other treatments. Dietary supplementation with L and LM leads to C18:3n-3 meat enrichment and to a microbial load and colour characteristics similar to those of C, without adverse effect on lamb performance. However the use of FO improves the fatty acid profile of meat, but negatively affects lamb performance and meat quality.
Short Communication. Effect of phosphorus nutrition and grain position within maize cob on grain phosphorus accumulation
Authors: Nadeem Muhamamad , Mollier Alain , Vives Alain , Prud´Homme Loic , Niollet Sylvie , Pellerin Sylvain
Published: June 2014

Nutritional status of grains may vary due to external nutrient supply and their position within parent maize cob. Phosphorus (P) is the least mobile nutrient in the soil and therefore newly growing seedlings are largely dependent on the stored grain P contents which are accumulated during the crop maturity period. Objective of this study was to access the effects of different P applications and grain positions on P and dry matter contents in grains. Phosphorus application and grain position has significant (p<0.05) effects on P contents in grains whereas dry weight and P content are highly correlated. Grain weight and P contents decreased linearly from base to apical position possibly due to flow of nutrients from base towards apical position within cob. Significantly higher grain dry weight (0.35±0.01 g) and P contents (962±57 µg P) are recorded in high P application (92.50 kg ha-1) rate on base position whereas minimum grain dry weight (0.14±0.01 g) and P contents (219±11 µg P) were recorded on apical grain position in low P application (5.60 kg ha-1) rate. The results suggest that for better seedling P nutrition especially in soils of low inherent P, maize grains should be selected from base or middle position where maximum dry weight and P contents are concentrated to support the seedlings to reach at growth at which roots are capable of external P uptake.
A comparison of controlled self-pollination and open pollination results based on maize grain quality
Authors: Sulewska Hanna , Adamczyk Jozef , Cygert Hennryk , Rogacki Janusz , Szymanska Grazyna , Smiatacz Karolina , Panasiewicz Katarzyna , Tomaszyk Kamila
Published: June 2014

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain endosperm is triploid (3n), of which 2n come from the male (transferred by pollen) and only 1n from the female plant, thus a major impact of the male form can be expected on grain quality parameters. A good example of this relationship is the phenomenon of xenia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pollen on grain quality. The field experiment was conducted in 2011; seeds were harvested from eight cultivars: Bosman, Blask, Tur, Kozak, Bielik, Smok, SMH 220 and Kresowiak, derived from free pollination and controlled self-pollination of maize. Analyses of nutrient contents and starch content in the grain were conducted in the laboratory. In addition, 1000 grain weight and the hectoliter weight of all grain samples were recorded. The results confirmed differences in grain quality of maize hybrids obtained by self-pollination and by open pollination. Grain of maize plants obtained by open-pollination was characterised by higher contents of N-free extract and starch, and lower protein content. Undertaking further studies on this subject may indicate specific recommendations for agricultural practice, such as mixtures of hybrids with good combining abilities, which will contribute to improved grain quality without additional costs.
Simulating of Top-Cross system for enhancement of antioxidants in maize grain
Authors: Vancetovic Jelena , Zilic Sladjana , Bozinovic Sofija , Ignjatovic-Micic Dragana
Published: June 2014

Blue maize (Zea mays L.) is grown for its high content of antioxidants. Conversion of yellow and white to blue maize is time consuming because several genes affect blue color. After each backcross selfing is needed for color to be expressed. In order to overcome the problem of time and effort needed for conversion to blue kernel color, we have set a pilot experiment simulating a Top-cross system for increasing antioxidants in maize grain. The idea is to alternately sow six rows of sterile standard quality hybrid and two rows of blue maize in commercial production. Five commercial ZP hybrids were crossed with a blue pop-corn population. Xenia effect caused by cross-pollination produced blue grain on all hybrids in the same year. Chemical analyses of the grains of five selfed original hybrids, five cross-pollinated hybrids and selfed blue popcorn pollinator were performed. Cross-fertilization with blue popcorn had different impact on antioxidant capacity and phytonutrients, increasing them significantly in some but not all cross-pollinated hybrids. Popcorn blue pollinator had higher values for all the analyzed traits than either selfed or cross-pollinated hybrids. Selfed vs. pollinated hybrids showed significant difference for total antioxidant capacity (p<0.1), total phenolics and total yellow pigments (p<0.01), with the increase of total phenolics and decrease of total yellow pigments in pollinated ones. Total flavonoids showed a little non-significant decrease in pollinated hybrids, while total anthocyanins were not detected in selfed yellow hybrids. Blue maize obtained this way has shown good potential for growing high quality phytonutrient genotypes.
Effectiveness of inorganic and organic mulching for soil salinity and sodicity control in a grapevine orchard drip-irrigated with moderately saline waters
Authors: Aragüés Ramón , Medina Eva T. , Clavería Ignacio
Published: June 2014

Soil mulching is a sensible strategy to reduce evaporation, accelerate crop development, reduce erosion and assist in weed control, but its efficiency for soil salinity control is not as well documented. The benefits of inorganic (plastic) and organic (grapevine pruning residues) mulching for soil salinity and sodicity control were quantified in a grapevine orchard (cultivars ‘Autumn’ Royal and ‘Crimson’) drip-irrigated with moderately saline waters. Soil samples were taken at the beginning and end of the 2008 and 2009 irrigation seasons in six vines of each cultivar and mulching treatment. Soil saturation extract electrical conductivity (ECe), chloride (Cle) and sodium adsorption ratio (SARe) values increased in all treatments of both grapevines along the irrigation seasons, but the increases were much lower in the mulched than in the bare soils due to reduced evaporation losses and concomitant decreases in salt evapo-concentration. The absolute salinity and sodicity daily increases in ‘Autumn’ and ‘Crimson’ 2008 and in ‘Crimson’ 2009 were on the average 44% lower in the plastic and 76% lower in the organic mulched soils than in the bare soil. The greater efficiency of the organic than the plastic mulch in ‘Crimson’ 2009 was attributed to the leaching of salts by a precipitation of 104 mm that infiltrated the organic mulch but was intercepted by the plastic mulch. Although further work is needed to substantiate these results, the conclusion is that the plastic mulch and, particularly, the organic mulch were more efficient than the bare soil for soil salinity and sodicity control.
Special Issue on Fitness to Drive
Authors: Madden Kenneth M.
Published: June 2014

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An Insight into SBM Efficiency of Slovak Commercial Banks
Authors: Boďa Martin , Zimková Emília
Published: June 2014

The paper investigates into the efficiency of the Slovak banking industry over the years 2000–2011 through the prism of the profit approach to the perception of efficiency of commercial banks. More precisely, the aim of the paper is to benchmark individual commercial banks with respect to their efficiency status under the profit definition of efficiency. Nonetheless, massive structural changes that took place in the Slovak economy also affected significantly the development of the Slovak banking sector and gave rise to shifts in its production function. In order to include these qualitative changes into consideration, the entire period of 12 years was – on economic grounds – divided into three consecutive non-overlapping sub-periods (2000–2003, 2004–2008, 2009–2011) during which the production function may be viewed stable and free of qualitative alterations. A panel of 11 organizational units (i.e. commercial banks) of the Slovak banking sector was identified, and under the assumption of the production function being constant and shiftless in the three sub-periods the data on them were pooled together for each of the three sub-periods. In evaluating their technical efficiency in the individual three sub-periods, a non-parametric method of evaluation is employed based on the slack-based measure (SBM) model of data envelopment analysis. During the period of 12 years examined, Slovenská sporiteľňa maintained a comparatively high SBM technical efficiency and other Slovak banks were subject to positive or negative changes in their comparative efficiency profile. The paper further demonstrates how this information can be used outside the academic sphere with an accent laid upon the stockholders and the management of the commercial banks under investigation.
Une pratique féminine ?
Authors: Auger Manon
Published: June 2014

Aujourd’hui, on associe volontiers la création d’une littérature intime aux femmes,
alors que, pourtant, le volume de journaux de femmes publiés est bien en-deçà de celui des
hommes. Par ailleurs, si de plus en plus de journaux écrits à diverses périodes trouvent
aujourd’hui des lieux de diffusion, nous donnant enfin accès aux pratiques des femmes,
certaines périodes, comme celle de l’entre-deux-guerres, demeurent encore dans l’ombre. Le
présent article se penche d’abord sur deux textes « mineurs » de la période, soit les
journaux de Marie-Claire Tremblay et de Léonise Valois, parus en extraits dans des
biographies consacrées à leur auteure. Porter un premier regard sur ces deux textes de
femmes publiés (et donc en quelque sorte sanctionnés) et les mettre en
rapport avec d’autres journaux, particulièrement ceux de Simone Routier, peut fournir
quelques pistes à une réflexion plus large sur l’évolution de la pratique diaristique
féminine au Québec. Certes, ces rares journaux ont des visées différentes, mais ils offrent
en contrepartie un regard complémentaire sur la pratique telle qu’on l’envisageait à
l’époque, tant du point de vue personnel que sur le plan institutionnel.
Les familles mixtes en Espagne : liens transnationaux et processus d’intégration
Authors: Roca Girona Jordi
Published: June 2014

L’article aborde le phénomène récent et croissant des couples mixtes en Espagne. Il est centré sur ceux qui sont formés d’un homme espagnol et d’une femme étrangère, qui sont les plus nombreux. Il analyse, d’une part, les relations transnationales entre le couple et la famille d’origine du conjoint migrant, en tenant compte de la différence entre les situations des couples avec ou sans enfants et, d’autre part, certaines questions liées au processus d’intégration du conjoint migrant « par amour » dans la société de destination, en portant une attention toute particulière à l’importance des enfants dans ce processus.
Le bilinguisme en tant que moyen d’enrichir la relation transnationale de la famille franco-brésilienne
Authors: Dos Santos Silva Marta
Published: June 2014

L’articulation du bilinguisme dans la construction identitaire des familles franco-brésiliennes est un phénomène impliquant des constructions stratégiques identifiables servant à maintenir la relation transnationale. La transmission de la langue portugaise aux enfants des couples franco-brésiliens serait le résultat de choix intentionnels selon le modèle de la « transplantation » de la femme brésilienne en France. Les résultats de nos entretiens sur le rapport qu’ont les mères brésiliennes à la biculturalité en général et au bilinguisme en particulier sont présentés à l’aide d’une typologie des formes de la transmission culturelle. En effet, le rapport à la biculturalité n’est pas uniforme : il dépend des trois régimes de conjugalité que nous dégageons dans cet article. Ainsi, la langue maternelle est considérée comme un héritage culturel, négocié dans le couple, et pouvant faire l’objet d’une valorisation, légitimée en fonction des référents culturels identitaires de ces familles mixtes.
Lien conjugal et représentations du chez-soi : la multiplicité et la mobilité comme éléments de construction identitaire
Authors: Therrien Catherine
Published: June 2014

En explorant les différentes représentations du chez-soi des étrangers en couple mixte installés au Maroc, cet article poursuit l’objectif d’enrichir la réflexion sur la mouvance de l’identité contemporaine en répliquant aux métaphores du migrant et du nomade et ce, par une inversion métaphorique, celle du « home » (chez-soi). Cette métaphore, qui fait davantage écho à la construction identitaire des individus concernés par cette recherche, contribue à l’avancement d’une rupture épistémologique en introduisant l’idée d’attachement et de continuité dans les parcours de mobilité et de mixité. Cet article montrera en effet que le projet de construction de soi de ces individus n’est pas synonyme de déracinement, comme nous le dépeignent certaines métaphores postmodernes, mais qu’il réfère à des liens d’attachement mobiles et pluriels. Cet article montrera également que la multiplicité et la fluidité des représentations du chez-soi permettent à ces migrants en couple mixte de maintenir une continuité dans leur parcours de mobilité.
L’expérience de la rencontre avec l’autre imaginé : cercle interprétatif et négociation identitaire chez les expatriés occidentaux en Inde
Authors: Giguère Nadia
Published: June 2014

Des archétypes de l’Inde persistent à travers le temps grâce à une chaîne continue et répétitive de stéréotypes qui enferment le sujet dans un cercle interprétatif. À partir d’une recherche ethnographique menée auprès d’expatriés occidentaux insérés en Inde dans des zones frontière spécifiques et répondant au fantasme de l’ailleurs, nous voyons ce qu’il advient de ce cercle interprétatif dans la rencontre interculturelle. L’article montre l’influence notable des représentations collectives de l’Inde (et de l’Occident) sur les interactions sociales, de même que leur réappropriation lors de la rencontre. Trois exemples montrent comment les discours et les modes d’organisation sociale des expatriés reproduisent des dichotomies classiques entre l’Inde et l’Occident, et ce, malgré le fait que ceux-ci se réclament d’un statut liminal et d’une posture critique face à la modernité.
Rompre avec la norme en 1931
Authors: Lord Véronique
Published: June 2014

Au Québec, dans les années 1930, l’idéologie dominante construit une image précise de la femme et lui impose un rôle qui lui laisse peu d’autonomie. Or, Dans les ombres, premier roman d’une jeune poète, Éva Senécal, s’écarte de la norme : il raconte comment une épouse s’éprend d’un Américain de passage, pose un regard critique sur l’idéologie traditionnelle et aspire à se définir et à agir selon des valeurs et des désirs véritablement siens. S’appuyant sur les principes et les théories de la critique littéraire au féminin, le présent article montre qu’en donnant à lire une héroïne qui défie les règles de conduite d’une épouse et qui veut s’affirmer sujet et agent de sa propre vie, de même qu’en rompant avec plusieurs normes en matière d’écriture, Senécal parvenait à mettre en relief une vision différente des femmes et de l’ordre établi.
Fifty Years in the TARDIS: The Historical Moments of Doctor Who
Authors: Chapman James
Published: June 2014

How can we explain the longevity of Doctor Who? This article will consider what I refer to as the ‘external history’ of the series, its place in the institutional and cultural histories of the BBC and British television, as well as the development of its ‘internal history’, the content and mythos of the series itself. In particular, it will focus on three ‘historical moments’ that each in their way denned the series at that moment: the mid-1960s, when it embed itself in the British cultural consciousness; the 1970s, when arguably Doctor Who was at the height of its critical and popular success; and its revival since 2005, when Doctor Who became a major global brand.
When Doctor Who Enters its Own Timeline: The Database Aesthetics and Hyperdiegesis of Multi-Doctor Stories
Authors: Hills Matt
Published: June 2014

Recent Doctor Who episodes such as ‘The Name of the Doctor’ (7:13) and ‘The Day of the Doctor’ anniversary special1 suggest that today's multi-Doctor TV stories seek to avoid audience awareness of actors' visible ageing, focusing on recent incarnations of the Doctor alongside sampled footage of previous stars. This positions 2013's multi-Doctor TV stories within a mode of ‘database aesthetics’ rather than as pastiching the programme's past. Recombining images from previous Doctor Who could unify the hyperdiegetic ‘Whoniverse’, but I identify a tension between this textuality and licensing strategies targeting fandom. And whilst November 23rd's episode was designed to be accessible to a mass audience, ‘The Night of the Doctor’ minisode2 and ‘The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot’3 responded to fans' wishes: contemporary multi-Doctor stories seemingly operate as part of the show's ‘fanbrand’, incorporating knowledge of fan critique.
It's Not HBO, it's TV: The View of Critics and Producers on Flemish ‘Quality TV’
Authors: Dhoest Alexander
Published: June 2014

Since the turn of the century, serial television drama is increasingly associated with quality. This reappraisal has been widely documented, but such accounts are strongly Anglocentric. Is this rise (or return) of ‘quality TV an international trend? Is it also present in smaller markets with lower budgets? To answer these questions, this article focuses on the small television market of Flanders (Dutch-language North Belgium). Nine successful productions are discussed, also their reviews. The core of the analysis is constituted by interviews with people involved in the production of these dramas, trying to understand how they define and aspire to produce ‘quality drama’.
A Cultural History of the New Nature Writing
Authors: Moran Joe
Published: June 2014

This article discusses the ‘new nature writing’ and the work of some of its key practitioners: Mark Cocker, Roger Deakin, Kathleen Jamie, Richard Mabey and Robert Macfarlane. The new nature writing focuses on finding meaning not in the rare and exotic but in our common, unremarkable encounters with the natural world, and in combining both scientific, scholarly observation of nature with carefully crafted, discursive writing. In this sense it speaks to a contemporary eco-political moment while critically engaging with the rich history of nature writing and thinking about the environment in Britain from the Romantic era onwards, and particularly since the late 1960s.
Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy for Managing Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Müller Axel , Franke Helge , Resch Karl-Ludwig , Fryer Gary
Published: June 2014

Context: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common and often lifelong functional gastrointestinal disorder. There is a scarcity of effective management options for IBS.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMTh) for managing the symptoms of IBS.

Data Sources: Articles without language or publication-date restriction were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, PEDro, OSTMED.DR, and Osteopathic Research Web. Search terms included irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, functional colonic disease, colon irritable, osteopath*, osteopathic manipulation, osteopathic medicine, clinical trial, and randomized clinical trial. Experts in the field of visceral osteopathy were also contacted to identify additional studies.

Study Selection: The authors evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of OMTh for IBS in adults in whom IBS was diagnosed using Rome (I-III) criteria. If OMTh was not the sole intervention in the intervention group and if the same additional interventions were not applied to the control group, the study was excluded.

Data Extraction: Citation identification, study selection, and data extraction were independently undertaken by 2 reviewers with a data extraction form from the Cochrane Collaboration. A consensus method was used to resolve disagreements concerning the assessment of the methodologic quality of the RCTs that were reviewed.

Results: The search identified 10 studies that examined OMTh for patients with IBS; 5 studies (204 patients) met the inclusion criteria. All studies were assessed as having low risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration criteria, although there was heterogeneity in the outcome measures and control interventions. Three studies used visual analog scales for abdominal pain, whereas others used the IBS severity score and the Functional Bowel Disorder Severity Index. A variety of secondary outcomes were used. All studies reported more pronounced short-term improvements with OMTh compared with sham therapy or standard care only. These differences remained statistically significant after variable lengths of follow-up in 3 studies.

Conclusion: The present systematic review provides preliminary evidence that OMTh may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with IBS. However, caution is required in the interpretation of these findings because of the limited number of studies available and the small sample sizes.
From “Doctor of Osteopathy” to “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine”: A Title Change in the Push for Equality
Authors: Gevitz Norman
Published: June 2014

Nationally, the California merger created great solidarity among osteopathic members of state and national osteopathic associations. They rebuffed further efforts at amalgamation and championed the continuation of the DO degree. Even after the American Medical Association (AMA) opened its doors to DOs to join local and state medical associations as well as the AMA itself and gave its blessing to them entering allopathic residency programs and becoming MD board certified, the DOs stood fast for their independence. Yet some across the country wanted to become known as MDs. A few osteopathic physicians even went to federal court to claim—unsuccessfully—that state medical boards' refusal to license them or allow them to identify themselves as MDs violated their constitutional rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments. In the mid-1990s, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) gave individual osteopathic medical colleges the option of indicating on their diplomas that the DO degree signified “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine” rather than “Doctor of Osteopathy,” a change that paralleled previous AOA policy changes regarding appropriate professional language. Nevertheless, some DOs and particularly a sizable number of osteopathic medical students continued to write of their desire for a change in the degree osteopathic medical colleges awarded. However, in July 2008 the AOA House of Delegates unanimously reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the traditional DO degree.
Isolation, Culture, and Transfection of Melanocytes
Authors: Godwin Lauren S. , Castle Joanna T. , Kohli Jaskaren S. , Goff Philip S. , Cairney Claire J. , Keith W. Nicol , Sviderskaya Elena V. , Bennett Dorothy C.
Published: June 2014

Located in the basal epidermis and hair follicles, melanocytes of the integument are responsible for its coloration through production of melanin pigments. Melanin is produced in lysosomal‐like organelles called melanosomes. In humans, this skin pigmentation acts as an ultraviolet radiation filter. Abnormalities in the division of melanocytes are quite common, with potentially oncogenic growth usually followed by cell senescence producing benign naevi (moles), or occasionally melanoma. Therefore, melanocytes are a useful model for studying melanoma, as well as pigmentation and organelle transport and the diseases affecting these mechanisms. This chapter focuses on the isolation, culture, and transfection of human and murine melanocytes. The first basic protocol describes the primary culture of melanocytes from human skin and the maintenance of growing cultures. The second basic protocol details the subculture and preparation of mouse keratinocyte feeder cells. The primary culture of melanocytes from mouse skin is described in the third basic protocol, and, lastly, the fourth basic protocol outlines a technique for transfecting melanocytes and melanoma cells. Curr. Protoc. Cell Biol. 63:1.8.1‐1.8.20. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of midlatitude westerlies on the paleoproductivity at the Agulhas Bank slope during the penultimate glacial cycle: Evidence from coccolith Sr/Ca ratios
Authors: Mejía Luz María , Ziveri Patrizia , Cagnetti Marilisa , Bolton Clara , Zahn Rainer , Marino Gianluca , Martínez‐Méndez Gema , Stoll Heather
Published: June 2014

Modern primary productivity on the Agulhas Bank, off South Africa, has been proposed to be linked to the midlatitude westerlies. A paleoproductivity record from this area may therefore resolve temporal changes in the westerly dynamics. Accordingly, we produced a coccolith Sr/Ca‐based paleoproductivity record from core MD96‐2080 (Agulhas Bank slope) during the penultimate glacial‐interglacial cycle. Deriving the productivity signal from Sr/Ca requires a correction for a temperature effect, here constrained using Mg/Ca sea surface temperatures from the foraminifer Globigerina bulloides from core MD96‐2080. Phases of depressed productivity coincided with periods of stratification in the same core, indicated by high relative abundances of the coccolithophore Florisphaera profunda and with low relative abundances of the upwelling indicator G. bulloides in the nearby Cape Basin. These observations collectively suggest that productivity was regulated by upwelling throughout this region. We infer that, as in the present, periods of low productivity result from a more northerly position of the westerlies, potentially accompanied by subtropical front displacements, and blockage of upwelling promoting easterlies. Productivity minima also coincide with periods of increased ice‐rafted detritus (IRD) deposition on the Agulhas Plateau, which also indicates extreme northward positions of the westerlies. The influence of the westerlies appears to be obliquity conditioned, as productivity minima (and IRD maxima) occur during low‐obliquity intervals. The dynamic connection between productivity and the westerlies is supported by coeval salinity changes in the South Indian Gyre that likewise respond sensitively to a poleward contraction of the westerlies.
Fifty Years of Deep Ocean Exploration With the DSVAlvin
Authors: Humphris Susan E. , German Christopher R. , Hickey J. Patrick
Published: June 2014

This week the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Alvin, the world's first deep‐diving submarine and the only one dedicated to scientific research in the United States, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
White House Science Fair Emphasizes Importance of STEM Education
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: June 2014

“I have a confession to make,” U.S. president Barack Obama told the audience of young inventors and their mentors at a 27 May White House Science Fair ceremony in the East Room of the White House. “When I was growing up, my science fair projects were not as successful as the ones here.” Recalling that during one of his experiments, “a bunch of mice escaped in my grandmother's apartment,” Obama joked, “These experiments did not take me straight to the White House.”
Atmospheric NO2 dynamics and impact on ocean color retrievals in urban nearshore regions
Authors: Tzortziou Maria , Herman Jay R. , Ahmad Ziauddin , Loughner Christopher P. , Abuhassan Nader , Cede Alexander
Published: June 2014

Urban nearshore regions are characterized by strong variability in atmospheric composition, associated with anthropogenic emissions and meteorological processes that influence the circulation and accumulation of atmospheric pollutants at the land‐water interface. If not adequately corrected in satellite retrievals of ocean color, this atmospheric variability can impose a false impression of diurnal and seasonal changes in nearshore water quality and biogeochemical processes. Consideration of these errors is important for measurements from polar orbiting ocean color sensors but becomes critical for geostationary satellite missions having the capability for higher frequency and higher spatial resolution observations of coastal ocean dynamics. We examined variability in atmospheric NO2 over urban nearshore environments in the Eastern US, Europe, and Korea, using a new network of ground‐based Pandora spectrometers and Aura‐OMI satellite observations. Our measurements in the US and in Europe revealed clear diurnal and day‐of‐the‐week patterns in total column NO2 (TCNO2), temporal changes as large as 0.8 DU within 4 h, and spatial variability as large as 0.7 DU within an area often covered by just a single OMI pixel. TCNO2 gradients were considerably stronger over the coastal cities of Korea. With a coarse resolution and an overpass at around 13:30 local time, OMI cannot detect this strong variability in NO2, missing pollution peaks from industrial and rush hour activities. Observations were combined with air quality model simulations and radiative transfer calculations to estimate the impact of atmospheric NO2 variability on satellite retrievals of coastal ocean remote sensing reflectance and biogeochemical variables (i.e., chlorophyll and CDOM).
Rapid Assays for Lectin Toxicity and Binding Changes that Reflect Altered Glycosylation in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Stanley Pamela , Sundaram Subha
Published: June 2014

Glycosylation engineering is used to generate glycoproteins, glycolipids, or proteoglycans with a more defined complement of glycans on their glycoconjugates. For example, a mammalian cell glycosylation mutant lacking a specific glycosyltransferase generates glycoproteins, and/or glycolipids, and/or proteoglycans with truncated glycans missing the sugar transferred by that glycosyltransferase, as well as those sugars that would be added subsequently. In some cases, an alternative glycosyltransferase may then use the truncated glycans as acceptors, thereby generating a new or different glycan subset in the mutant cell. Another type of glycosylation mutant arises from gain‐of‐function mutations that, for example, activate a silent glycosyltransferase gene. In this case, glycoconjugates will have glycans with additional sugar(s) that are more elaborate than the glycans of wild type cells. Mutations in other genes that affect glycosylation, such as nucleotide sugar synthases or transporters, will alter the glycan complement in more general ways that usually affect several types of glycoconjugates. There are now many strategies for generating a precise mutation in a glycosylation gene in a mammalian cell. Large‐volume cultures of mammalian cells may also generate spontaneous mutants in glycosylation pathways. This article will focus on how to rapidly characterize mammalian cells with an altered glycosylation activity. The key reagents for the protocols described are plant lectins that bind mammalian glycans with varying avidities, depending on the specific structure of those glycans. Cells with altered glycosylation generally become resistant or hypersensitive to lectin toxicity, and have reduced or increased lectin or antibody binding. Here we describe rapid assays to compare the cytotoxicity of lectins in a lectin resistance test, and the binding of lectins or antibodies by flow cytometry in a glycan‐binding assay. Based on these tests, glycosylation changes expressed by a cell can be revealed, and glycosylation mutants classified into phenotypic groups that may reflect a loss‐of‐function or gain‐of‐function mutation in a specific gene involved in glycan synthesis. Curr. Protoc. Chem. Biol. 6:117‐133 © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hierarchical Carbon Decorated Li3V2(PO4)3 as a Bicontinuous Cathode with High‐Rate Capability and Broad Temperature Adaptability
Authors: Luo Yanzhu , Xu Xu , Zhang Yuxiang , Pi Yuqiang , Zhao Yunlong , Tian Xiaocong , An Qinyou , Wei Qiulong , Mai Liqiang
Published: June 2014

Developing rechargeable lithium ion batteries with fast charge/discharge rate, high capacity and power, long lifespan, and broad temperature adaptability is still a significant challenge. In order to realize the fast and efficient transport of ions and electrons during the charging/discharging process, a 3D hierarchical carbon‐decorated Li3V2(PO4)3 is designed and synthesized with a nanoscale amorphous carbon coating and a microscale carbon network. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area is 65.4 m2 g−1 and the porosity allows for easy access of the electrolyte to the active material. A specific capacity of 121 mAh g−1 (91% of the theoretical capacity) can be obtained at a rate up to 30 C. When cycled at a rate of 20 C, the capacity retention is 77% after 4000 cycles, corresponding to a capacity fading of 0.0065% per cycle. More importantly, the composite cathode shows excellent temperature adaptability. The specific discharge capacities can reach 130 mAh g−1 at 20 C and 60 °C, and 106 mAh g−1 at 5 C and –20 °C. The rate performance and broad temperature adaptability demonstrate that this hierarchical carbon‐decorated Li3V2(PO4)3 is one of the most attractive cathodes for practical applications.
Monoanchoring (D‐D‐π‐A) and Dianchoring (D‐D‐(π‐A)2) Organic Dyes Featuring Triarylamine Donors Composed of Fluorene and Carbazole
Authors: Baheti Abhishek , Justin Thomas K. R. , Lin Ling‐Chuan , Lee Kun‐Mu
Published: June 2014

Organic dyes containing carbazole as an auxiliary donor, oligothiophene linkers, and cyanoacrylic acid acceptors with two different architectures (D‐D‐π‐A and D‐D‐(π‐A)2) were synthesized and characterized by optical and electrochemical measurements. The charge‐transfer transitions of the monoanchoring dyes with a D‐D‐π‐A configuration are intense whereas the π–π* transitions of the dianchoring dyes with D‐D‐(π‐A)2 architecture are promising. Incorporation of bithiophene into the conjugation slightly lowers the LUMO level of the dyes. The optical and electrochemical properties of these dyes are better than diphenylamine‐based dyes. The TDDFT calculations were performed to rationalize the trends in the optical and electrochemical properties of the dyes. The efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells based on the monoanchoring dyes is two to fivefold larger than the corresponding cells based on dianchoring congeners. Also, the use of chenodeoxycholic acid as an additive increases the efficiency of the devices reasonably.
Fire and home range expansion: A behavioral response to burning among savanna dwelling vervet monkeys (Chlorocebusaethiops)
Authors: Herzog Nicole M. , Parker Christopher H. , Keefe Earl R. , Coxworth James , Barrett Alan , Hawkes Kristen
Published: June 2014

The behavioral adaptations of primates to fire‐modified landscapes are of considerable interest to anthropologists because fire is fundamental to life in the African savanna—the setting in which genus Homo evolved. Here we report the behavioral responses of a savanna‐dwelling primate, vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), to fire‐induced ecological change. Using behavioral and spatial data to characterize ranging patterns prior to and postburn and between burn and nonburn years, we show that these primates inhabiting small, spatially bound, riverine habitats take advantage of newly burned savanna landscapes. When subjects encountered controlled fires, they did not flee but instead avoided the path of the fire seemingly unbothered by its approach. After fire, the primates' home range expanded into newly burned but previously unused areas. These results contribute to understanding the response of non‐human primates to fire‐modified landscapes and can shed light on the nature and scope of opportunities and constraints posed by the emergence of fire‐affected landscapes in the past. Results also expose deficiencies in our knowledge of fire‐related behavioral responses in the primate lineage and highlight the need for further investigation of these responses as they relate to foraging opportunities, migration, resource use, and especially fire‐centric adaptations in our own genus. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:554–560, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measuring Fate and Rate of Single‐Molecule Competition of Amplification and Restriction Digestion, and Its Use for Rapid Genotyping Tested with Hepatitis C Viral RNA
Authors: Sun Bing , Rodriguez‐Manzano Jesus , Selck David A. , Khorosheva Eugenia , Karymov Mikhail A. , Ismagilov Rustem F.
Published: June 2014

We experimentally monitored, at the single‐molecule level, the competition among reverse transcription, exponential amplification (RT‐LAMP), and linear degradation (restriction enzymes) starting with hepatitis C viral RNA molecules. We found significant heterogeneity in the rate of single‐molecule amplification; introduction of the restriction enzymes affected both the rate and the “fate” (the binary outcome) of single‐molecule amplification. While end‐point digital measurements were primarily sensitive to changes in fate, the bulk real‐time kinetic measurements were dominated by the rate of amplification of the earliest molecules, and were not sensitive to fate of the rest of the molecules. We show how this competition of reactions can be used for rapid HCV genotyping with either digital or bulk readout. This work advances our understanding of single‐molecule dynamics in reaction networks and may help bring genotyping capabilities out of clinical labs and into limited‐resource settings.
Surface‐modified pliable PDLLA/PCL/β‐TCP scaffolds as a promising delivery system for bone regeneration
Authors: Hu Yuanyuan , Wang Jing , Xing Wanli , Cao Lingyan , Liu Changsheng
Published: June 2014

Surface‐modified poly(d, l‐lactide)/polycaprolactone/β‐tricalcium phosphate complex scaffold was fabricated in this study and we hypothesized that pliable and mechanical strong scaffold would be achieved by regulation of ternary compositions; while superficial modification strategy conduced to preserve and controlled‐release of bioactive growth factors. Properties of the composite scaffolds were systematically investigated, including mechanical properties, surface morphology, porosity, wettability, and releasing behavior. Moreover, the representative cytokine, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2), was loaded and implanted into muscular pouch of mouse to assess bone formation in vivo. Improved osteogenesis was achieved ascribed to both amplified β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) content and retarded initial burst release. Particularly, scaffold doped with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) displayed optimal osteogenic capability. The results indicated that the PDLLA/PCL/β‐TCP complex scaffold along with HPMC‐coating and rhBMP‐2 loading was a promising candidate for bone regeneration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40951.