bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First whole genome based microsatellite DNA marker database of tomato for mapping and variety identification
Authors: Iquebal Mir A , Sarika  , Arora Vasu , Verma Nidhi , Rai Anil , Kumar Dinesh
Published: December 2013

Background

The cultivated tomato is second most consumed vegetable of the world and is an important part of a diverse and balanced diet as a rich source of vitamins, minerals, phenolic antioxidants and antioxidant lycopene having anti-cancer properties. To reap benefit of genomics of the domestic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) unravelled by Tomato Genome Consortium (The Tomato Genome Consortium, 2012), the bulk mining of its markers in totality is imperative and critically required. The solgenomics has limited number of microsatellite DNA markers (2867) pertaining to solanaceae family. As these markers are of linkage map having relative distance, the choice of selected markers based on absolute distance as of physical map is missing. Only limited microsatellite markers with limitations are reported for variety identification thus there is a need for more markers supplementing DUS test and also for traceability of product in global market.

Description

We present here the first whole genome based microsatellite DNA marker database of tomato, TomSatDB (Tomato MicroSatellite Database) with more than 1.4 million markers mined in-silico, using MIcroSAtellite (MISA) tool. To cater the customized needs of wet lab, features with a novelty of an automated primer designing tool is added. TomSatDB (http://cabindb.iasri.res.in/tomsatdb), a user-friendly and freely accessible tool offers chromosome wise as well as location wise search of primers. It is an online relational database based on “three-tier architecture” that catalogues information of microsatellites in MySQL and user-friendly interface developed using PHP (Hypertext Pre Processor).

Conclusion

Besides abiotic stress, tomato is known to have biotic stress due to its susceptibility over 200 diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. These markers are expected to pave the way of germplasm management over abiotic and biotic stress as well as improvement through molecular breeding, leading to increased tomato productivity in India as well as other parts of the world. In era of IPR the new variety can be identified based on allelic variation among varieties supplementing DUS test and product traceability.
Changes in drug sensitivity and anti-malarial drug resistance mutations over time among Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Senegal
Authors: Van Tyne Daria , Dieye Baba , Valim Clarissa , Daniels Rachel F , Sène Papa Diogoye , Lukens Amanda K , Ndiaye Mouhamadou , Bei Amy K , Ndiaye Yaye Die , Hamilton Elizabeth J , Ndir Omar , Mboup Souleymane , Volkman Sarah K , Wirth Dyann F , Ndiaye Daouda
Published: December 2013

Background

Malaria treatment efforts are hindered by the rapid emergence and spread of drug resistant parasites. Simple assays to monitor parasite drug response in direct patient samples (ex vivo) can detect drug resistance before it becomes clinically apparent, and can inform changes in treatment policy to prevent the spread of resistance.

Methods

Parasite drug responses to amodiaquine, artemisinin, chloroquine and mefloquine were tested in approximately 400 Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in Thiès, Senegal between 2008 and 2011 using a DAPI-based ex vivo drug resistance assay. Drug resistance-associated mutations were also genotyped in pfcrt and pfmdr1.

Results

Parasite drug responses changed between 2008 and 2011, as parasites became less sensitive to amodiaquine, artemisinin and chloroquine over time. The prevalence of known resistance-associated mutations also changed over time. Decreased amodiaquine sensitivity was associated with sustained, highly prevalent mutations in pfcrt, and one mutation in pfmdr1 – Y184F – was associated with decreased parasite sensitivity to artemisinin.

Conclusions

Directly measuring ex vivo parasite drug response and resistance mutation genotyping over time are useful tools for monitoring parasite drug responses in field samples. Furthermore, these data suggest that the use of amodiaquine and artemisinin derivatives in combination therapies is selecting for increased drug tolerance within this population.
Sialyl Lewis X as a predictor of skip N2 metastasis in clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Komatsu Hiroaki , Mizuguchi Shinjiro , Izumi Nobuhiro , Chung Kyukwang , Hanada Shoji , Inoue Hidetoshi , Suehiro Shigefumi , Nishiyama Noritoshi
Published: December 2013

Background

Radical segmentectomy has been performed for small-sized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, underestimation of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in the absence of hilar or interlobar metastasis (skip N2) affects surgical strategy. Our aim was to investigate preoperative and intraoperative predictors of skip N2 in clinical stage (c-stage) IA NSCLC.

Methods

From 1998 to 2011, 279 patients (155 men and 124 women) with c-stage IA NSCLC (230 pN0, 17 pN1, 12 skip N2, 20 non-skip N2) underwent systematic lobectomy (R0 resection) at our institute. We compared preoperative serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 19 fragment, sialyl Lewis X (SLX), and pre- and intraoperative clinicopathological features of pN0 and skip N2 patients. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to distinguish between the two patient groups.

Results

The 5-year survival rate of skip N2 patients was 78.6%, higher than that of non-skip N2 patients (44.9%), and not significantly different than that of pN0 (86.7%) or pN1 patients (82.4%). The mean serum SLX concentration in skip N2 patients (28.0 U/ml) was elevated compared to that in pN0 patients (22.9 U/ml). In ROC analysis of SLX, the area under the curve was 0.710, and the optimal cut-off value was 21.4 U/ml (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 51.7%). In multivariate analysis, SLX was an independent predictor of skip N2 in patients with c-stage IA NSCLC (odds ratio, 9.43; p = 0.006).

Conclusions

Skip N2 metastasis is common in patients with c-stage IA NSCLC with high serum SLX, and lobectomy with complete dissection of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes should remain the standard surgical procedure for these cases.
Shape-controllable synthesis of hydrophilic NaLuF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals by a surfactant-assistant two-phase system
Authors: Zhou Na , Qiu Peiy , Wang Kan , Fu Hualin , Gao Guo , He Rong , Cui Daxiang
Published: December 2013

Water-soluble upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared by a one-pot procedure in a two-phase reacting system. Four kinds of surfactants were tested in the synthesis process as capping agent to tune size and morphology of nanocrystals. Nanoparticles (approximately 70 nm) and rods (400 nm and 2.5 μm) were synthesized, respectively. Then, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the successful linking between UCNP surface and surfactant. Ionic liquids (ILs) and surfactants participated in synthesis process together, competing with each other to cap on UCNPs. ILs still led the competition of capping, while surfactants worked as cooperative assistants to develop functional surface. Further characterizations such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated the changes in crystallization and phase transformation under the influence of surfactants. In addition, the growth mechanism of nanocrystals and upconversion fluorescence luminance was also investigated in detail. At last, the cytotoxicity of UCNPs was evaluated, which highly suggest that these surface-functionalized UCNPs are promising candidates for biomedical engineering.
Bone marrow-derived stem cells ameliorate hepatic fibrosis by down-regulating interleukin-17
Authors: Zheng Linhua , Chu Jindong , Shi Yongquan , Zhou Xinmin , Tan Ling , Li Qiang , Cui Lina , Han Zheyi , Han Ying , Fan Daiming
Published: December 2013

Background

Accumulating evidences have identified the immunoregulatory features of stem cells. In this study, the immunoregulation of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) transplanted into patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis and mouse model of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration was observed.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis showed significantly higher levels of TNF-alpha, IL-12, TGF-beta1, IL-17, and IL-8. However, only IL-17 was markedly decreased after autologous BMSCs transplantation during their follow-up. The same results were found in the CCl4-treated mice. Furthermore, we found that exogenous IL-17 partly abolished the therapeutic effect of BMSCs whereas IL-17-specific antibody promoted improvement of liver injury in CCl4-treated mice, resembling the therapeutic effect of BMSCs transplantation.

Conclusions

These data suggested that BMSCs transplantation induces a decrease of IL-17 level, which at least in part delineates the mechanisms of stem cells-mediated therapeutic benefit on liver disease.
Krauklis wave initiation in fluid-filled fractures by seismic body waves
Authors: Frehner Marcel
Published: December 2013

Krauklis waves are a special wave mode that is bound to and propagates along fluid-filled fractures. They can repeatedly propagate back and forth along a fracture and eventually fall into resonance emitting a seismic signal with a dominant characteristic frequency. They are of great interest because this resonant behavior can lead to strongly frequency-dependent propagation effects for seismic body waves and may explain seismic tremor generation in volcanic areas or affect microseismic signals in fractured fluid reservoirs. It has been demonstrated that Krauklis waves can be initiated by a seismic source inside the fracture, for example by hydrofracturing. Here, the aim is to study Krauklis wave initiation by an incident plane P- or S-wave in numerical simulations. Both seismic body waves are reflected and scattered at the fracture, but also, two Krauklis waves are initiated with significant amplitude, one at each fracture tip (i.e., at the diffraction-points of the fracture). Generally, the incident S-wave initiates larger-amplitude Krauklis waves compared to the incident P-wave case. For both incident wave modes, the initiation of Krauklis waves strongly depends on the fracture orientation. In the case of an incident P-wave, large-amplitude Krauklis waves are initiated at moderate (12°–40°) and high ([Formula: see text]) inclination angles of the fracture with a distinct gap at approximately 50°. The dependency of Krauklis wave initiation on fracture orientation is almost inversed in the case of an incident S-wave and the largest-amplitude Krauklis waves are initiated at an S-wave incidence angle of approximately 50°. The initiation of large-amplitude Krauklis waves by both P- and S-waves has important implications for earthquake signals propagating through fluid-bearing fractured rocks (volcanic areas, fluid-reservoirs) or for seismic exploration surveys in fractured reservoir situations.
Assembling Neighbors
Authors: Jiménez Alberto Corsín , Estalella Adolfo
Published: December 2013

This contribution to the Common Knowledge symposium “Fuzzy Studies” reports on the rise of the “popular assemblies” movement that swept the streets of Madrid in the wake of the May 15, 2011, occupation of Puerta del Sol. Assemblies have since taken installation in public spaces as infrastructural with significant methodological implications. Their incorporation into the cityscape has demanded of participants an inventive deployment of techniques and tactics drawn from archival practices and practices of hospitality, as well as the development of varieties of urban hardware. The “fuzz” or mess of the assembly — the difficulties that participants have at putting together, let alone understanding, the assembly as an urban form — offers a valuable perspective on present-day discussions concerning the city as an object of political claims and rights.
Historians and Storytellers
Authors: Thomas Keith
Published: December 2013

This guest column comprises both a review of the English translation of Carlo Ginzburg's book Threads and Traces: True False Fictive (2012) and some general comments on the merits and demerits of microhistory as a genre poised between historical writing and fiction. The column is published in the context of two others regarding this latter topic — one by Natalie Zemon Davis, the author of the microhistorical classic The Return of Martin Guerre, and one by Colin Richmond. Davis's column is a response to Keith Thomas's having drawn approving attention to the following remark of J. H. Elliott's: “Something is amiss when the name of Martin Guerre threatens to become better known than that of Martin Luther.” In the present piece, Thomas writes of Ginzburg, a founder of Italian microhistory, that he is more a “European intellectual” than a “mere historian,” the difference being that the former is less interested in history per se than in fields like anthropology, philosophy, and literary theory. Thomas's column expresses doubt about the intellectual restlessness of historians like Ginzburg and about the preparation of microhistorians to write constantly on topics new to them, but it claims as well that Ginzburg's “combination of erudition and piercing intelligence is irresistible.”
“I’m Not Just Making This Up as I Go Along”
Authors: Kreiser Chris
Published: December 2013

The article traces ideas of improvisation in Quintilian’s rhetorical work, presents an interdisciplinary literature review of improvisation studies, and surveys modern disciplines that teach improvisation, all with the goal of implementing these ideas into a first-year, college-writing pedagogy.
Geographical differences in maternal basking behaviour and offspring growth rate in a climatically widespread viviparous reptile
Authors: Cadby Chloe , Jones Susan , Wapstra Erik
Published: December 2013

In reptiles, the thermal environment during embryonic development affects offspring phenotypic traits and potentially offspring fitness. In viviparous species, mothers can potentially manipulate the embryonic thermal environment through their basking behaviour and, thus, may be able to manipulate offspring phenotype and increase offspring fitness. One way mothers can increase offspring fitness is by fine-tuning their basking behaviour to the environment in order to buffer the embryo from deleterious developmental temperatures. In widespread species, it is unclear whether populations that have evolved under different climatic conditions will exhibit different maternal behaviours and/or thermal effects on offspring fitness. To test this, we provided extended or reduced basking opportunity to gravid spotted skinks (Niveoscincus ocellatus) and their offspring from two populations at the climatic extremes of the species distribution. Gravid females fine-tuned their basking behaviour to the basking opportunity, which allowed them to buffer their embryos from potentially negative thermal effects. This fine-tuning of female basking behaviour appears to have led to the expression of geographical differences in basking behaviour with females from the cold alpine regions being more opportunistic in their basking behaviour than females from the warmer regions. However, those differences in maternal behaviour did not preclude the evolution of geographic differences in thermal effects: offspring growth varied between populations potentially suggesting local adaptation to basking conditions. Our results demonstrate that maternal effects and phenotypic plasticity can play a significant role in allowing species to cope in changing environmental conditions, which is particularly relevant in the context of climate change.
Hydrogen Generation by Graphene Oxide–Alkylamine Hybrids through Photocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Ikeda Yukino , Karim Mohammad Razaul , Takehira Hiroshi , Hatakeyama Kazuto , Matsui Takeshi , Taniguchi Takaaki , Koinuma Michio , Matsumoto Yasumichi , Hayami Shinya
Published: December 2013

We report the photocatalytic activities of graphene oxide–alkylated amines (GO–An; GO: graphene oxide and An: alkylamine with n carbons in the alkyl group; n = 0, 1, 4, and 8). The hybrids were synthesized through facile, quick, and reproducible methods and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The hybrids exhibited efficient photocataytic activity to generate hydrogen gas by water splitting under UV light irradiation at room temperature.
Turning points in the economic development of South-American countries
Authors: Басовский  , Basovskiy Leonid
Published: December 2013

Growth rates of the South-American economies are assessed against the world

economy growth rate. Turning points in economic development are identified

based on the catastrophe theory approach, namely, by evaluating variances in

the rates of economic growth. Turning points of economic growth are identified

for the world economy and also for Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Chile. The

said countries have grown faster than the world economy: Chile, Colombia and

Venezuela have demonstrated the 4,5–5,5% growth rate, and Brazil – 3%.

In terms of growth sustainability the said four countries could be ranged as

follows (in descending order): Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela. All the four

could be prospective business and trading partners. In terms of economic

growth rates and sustainability or growth the most promising partners are

Colombia and Brazil, followed by Chile and Venezuela as slightly less promising

partners
Book Reviews
Authors: Rand Graham K.
Published: December 2013

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an email from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor.

The following books are reviewed in this issue of Interfaces, 43(6), November–December 2013: Poor Economics, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo; Integration of Information and Optimization Models for Routing in City Logistics, Jan Fabian Ehmke; Complementarity Modeling in Energy Markets, Steven A. Gabriel, Antonio J. Conejo, J. David Fuller, Benjamin F. Hobbs, and Carlos Ruiz; Community-Based Operations Research: Decision Modeling for Local Impact and Diverse Populations, Michael P. Johnson; Warehousing in the Global Supply Chain, Riccardo Manzini; Mathematical Optimization of Water Networks, Alexander Martin, Kathrin Klamroth, Jens Lang, Gunter Leugering, Antonio Morsi, Martin Oberlack, Manfred Ostrowski, and Roland Rosen; Advanced Planning in Supply Chains, Hartmut Stadtler, Bernhard Fleischmann, Martin Grunow, Herbert Meyr, and Christopher Sürie; and Fundamentals of Queuing Systems: Statistical Methods for Analyzing Queuing Models, Nick T. Thomopoulos.
The Ombudsman: Is the Evidence Sufficient to Take Action on Executive Pay? Reply to Commentators
Authors: Armstrong J. Scott , Jacquart Philippe
Published: December 2013

The experimental evidence in this collection of papers is sufficient for organizations to take action—at least with respect to investigating or testing alternative pay schemes. Some organizations have already implemented a number of these procedures. The failure of an organization’s directors to follow evidence-based procedures for executive pay might be used as a basis for legal action by shareholders when results are detrimental to a firm.
ASP, The Art and Science of Practice: From Edelman Award to INFORMS Prize—Jeppesen’s 15-Year Journey Toward Analytics Excellence and Lessons Learned Along the Way
Authors: Karisch Stefan E. , Tarantino William J.
Published: December 2013

For nearly 80 years, Jeppesen has helped people safely reach their destinations by providing aviation professionals worldwide with navigational information, flight-planning services, and operations solutions. About 20 years ago, Jeppesen—like many companies—began to struggle with the transformation from the Triassic age of cumbersome machinery and analog pencil-on-paper decision making to electronic media and charting in the fast-moving digital age. Many companies failed to survive this transformation, or they continue to struggle. Jeppesen has thrived in this new world of complex digital technologies, shifting customer demands, and mutable markets. It has done so by moving from a product-based focus to a customer-based focus and by using operations research (OR) as an essential decision-making strategy to improve its ability to satisfy customer demands. Jeppesen’s use of OR is noteworthy; the company won the Franz Edelman Award in 2000 and the INFORMS Prize in 2010. How did it manage the internal change to reach the OR excellence needed to attain such recognition? What are some of the lessons learned along the way? And what is next? One thing is certain: over this period, OR has enabled the improved decision making that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits to Jeppesen and several billion dollars in benefits to its customers. In this paper, we describe some pivotal events that led to Jeppesen’s current reliance on OR as a strategic capability.
Redesigning Midday Meal Logistics for the Akshaya Patra Foundation: OR at Work in Feeding Hungry School Children
Authors: Mahadevan B. , Sivakumar S. , Dinesh Kumar D. , Ganeshram K.
Published: December 2013

Midday meal programs at schools are prevalent in countries such as India. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, operates such a program in India for about 1.3 million children in more than 9,000 schools in nine states. The foundation faced a logistics problem in efficiently distributing food within the available time window. This paper discusses the challenges it faced, how we used OR modeling to overcome them, and how we designed, developed, and implemented a software solution. To address the logistics problem, we proposed a three-stage decomposition heuristic solution, which consists of clustering schools, assigning appropriate distribution vehicles to clusters, and routing vehicles within the clusters. We implemented our solution, AMRUTA, on a pilot basis in one location. Based on this pilot, the projected annual cost savings are US$75,000, which would enable the foundation to add 2,400 more children. When the program is fully implemented, we estimate that the annual cost savings will be about US$1.96 million. This project demonstrates how operations research can be useful for solving social sector problems in a developing country such as India.
A Theory for Market Growth or Decline
Authors: Shugan Steven M. , Mitra Debanjan
Published: December 2013

Market growth is fundamental to marketing. Frank Bass's seminal diffusion theory explains growth in new product markets. We develop an analogous theory for established markets exhibiting sporadic growth or intermittent declines.

Our theory suggests that market participants repeatedly take successful and unsuccessful actions that cause them to change or to mutate in myriad and often unpredictable ways. The environment sorts these mutations, determining winners and losers. Abundant mutations often cause different market participants to become winners, displacing past winners. Abundant mutations also often cause market growth because the natural selection mechanism leaves more surviving favorable mutations. So one nonobvious falsifiable implication of our theory is that displacement precedes growth and stability precedes decline. Another is that risk taking, diversity of opinions, and experimentation should precede growth.

We develop a metric for measuring displacement. Using multiple publicly available data sets (one including sales for top firms for 55 years and another including sales for all automobile models for 25 years), we find that our metric provides a practical way to measure the rate of mutation and confirm our theory's predictions. Our easily replicated tests show that our displacement metric can predict intermittent market growth or decline in very different contexts without the need for exogenous idiosyncratic explanations. Moreover, other alternative covariates (trends, lagged growth, new product entry, macroeconomic indicators, etc.) are unable to predict growth or decline.
Contract Bargaining with a Risk-Averse Agent
Authors: Li Sanxi , Xiao Hao , Yao Dongmin
Published: December 2013

This article is the first to study a bargaining model in a moral hazard framework where the principal is risk neutral and the agent is risk averse. We show that the power of incentives increases with the agent’s bargaining power if the contracts induce a high effort. However, under reasonable assumptions about the agent’s utility function, the contracts induce a high effort less often as the agent’s bargaining power increases. As for the social welfare, we are surprised to find that a utilitarian, who cares about the sum of the two parties’ certainty equivalents, is worse off as the agent’s bargaining power increases. These results are in sharp contrast to the literature, which features risk-neutral agents protected by limited liability.
Academia or the Private Sector? Sorting of Agents into Institutions and an Outside Sector
Authors: Craig Andrea , Vierø Marie-Louise
Published: December 2013

This article develops an equilibrium sorting model with utility maximizing agents (researchers) on one side of the market, and on the other side institutions (universities) and an outside sector. Researchers are assumed to care about peer effects, their relative status within universities, and salary compensation. They differ in their concern for salary compensation as well as in their ability. We derive the unique stable equilibrium allocation of researchers and investigate the effects on the academic sector of changes in the outside option as well as the interaction between the outside option and the researchers’ concern for relative status. In any equilibrium, the right-hand side of the ability distribution is allocated to the academic sector, while the left-hand side of the ability distribution is allocated to the outside sector, with possible overlap between sectors and within the academic sector. The universities’ qualities are determined endogenously, and we show that an increase in the value of the outside option decreases the difference in quality between the higher and lower ranked universities. Furthermore, differences in average salaries between the institutions arise endogenously.
Adsorption Kinetics of Oxytetracycline onto Activated Carbon in a Closed-Loop Fixed Bed Reactor
Authors: Djedouani Djamila , Chabani Malika , Amrane Abdeltif , Bensmaili Aicha
Published: December 2013

Batch experiments were carried out for the adsorption of oxytetracycline (OTC) onto powdered activated carbon (PAC). The operating variables examined were the initial concentration (20–150 mg L−1) and the adsorbent concentration (0.75–1.75 g L−1). As observed increasing the initial concentration, while decreasing the adsorbent dosage, had a positive impact on the amount of OTC uptake (mg g−1).

The kinetics was examined in a closed-loop fixed bed adsorber to propose an adsorption mechanism, to understand the dynamic interactions of OTC with ECA08 activated carbon and to predict its fate with time.

The sorption results were analyzed using chemical and physical kinetics models. For concentrations lower than 70 mg L−1, the sorption process was found to be controlled by both surface reactions and mass transfer. The average external mass transfer coefficient and intraparticle diffusion coefficient were found to be 0.0051 min−1 and 1.97 mg g−1 min−0.5, respectively. For concentrations higher than 70 mg L−1, mass transfer became rapid and the chemical reaction at the surface of the solid phase was the rate-limiting step. The results showed that the adsorption reaction was accurately described by the pseudo-second-order model.
Calculation of the Effective Diffusion Coefficients in Drying of Chemical and Mechanical Pretreated Rosehip Fruits (Rosa eglanteria L.) with Selected Mass Transfer Models
Authors: Mabellini Alejandra , Ohaco Elizabeth , Márquez Carlos , Lozano Jorge E. , De Michelis Antonio
Published: December 2013

The aim of this work was to select models of mass transfer to estimate effective mass diffusion coefficients during the dehydration of Rosa eglanteria fruits with air at 70°C. Fruits were pretreated chemically and mechanically (dipping it in NaOH and ethyl oleate solutions and cutting or perforating the fruit cuticle). Selected models were those of Becker and Fick’s second law, considering fruit shrinkage during drying. Both models satisfactorily predict the fruit drying, and the different pretreatments, to total or partially remove this waxen cuticle, noticeably improved water diffusion, reducing the time of processing from 28% (NaOH) to 52% (oleate and mechanical pretreatments). Mechanical pretreatments were the more effective, because oleate presents quality problems.
A New Alternative Real-Time Method to Monitoring Dough Behavior during Processing Using Wireless Sensor Technology
Authors: Pereira Luiz Arthur Malta , Pinto Camila Nardi , Piza Luciana Vieira , Silva Ana Carolina Sousa , Gonzales-Barron Ursula , Costa Ernane Jose Xavier
Published: December 2013

Currently, food industries need rapidly available information related to food production while most lab-based instrumentation techniques are often complicated and expensive for real-time application. Studies show that the measurement of rheological characteristics of dough is a relevant control variable for the proper formulation of ingredients and bread-making additives. It is in this context that this work aims to present an alternative method for real-time monitoring of the evolution of the dough behavior during processing with telemetry form. The dough behavior is monitored through the changes in the electrical properties of the motor as affected by the properties of the machine torque that makes the mixture. Results of this work showed that it is possible to record dough deformation during mixing in real time and also demonstrated how wireless technology can contribute to the quality control of a food processing system.
Knowing Self and Caring Through Service Learning
Authors: Schofield Ruth , Allan Mary , Jewiss Tracey , Hunter Amy , Sinclair Nancy , Diamond Alison , Sidwell Casey
Published: December 2013

Professional caring is the essence of nursing practice. Reflection on personal assumptions and beliefs challenge stereotypic views that influence professional caring and nursing care. An innovative educational pedagogy known as service learning creates an opportunity for students to reflect on self in the context of service to others; it is through this pedagogy that personal assumptions and beliefs are challenged as students become registered nurses.A qualitative descriptive study engaged undergraduate first and second year nursing students through interviews and reflections. The purposes of this study were to describe students’ perception of self and caring in service learning, any changes in the perceptions of self over time, and the connection of self to others. Results identified three major themes: understanding self, becoming a nurse and learning to care with increasing depth over the two years. Implications for nursing curriculum and further research are discussed.
Reading Ella: Using Literary Patients to Enhance Nursing Students’ Reflective Thinking in the Classroom
Authors: Pohlman Shawn
Published: December 2013

This action research study was designed to explore, in-depth, how 70 senior nursing students experienced an assignment that involved reading and reflecting on a short story, Ella, and the educator’s experience during the process. Four sources of data were collected: student reflections, field notes, a classroom process recording by an expert educator/observer, and a focus group interview. Four themes emerged: (1) student reflections revealed their inner, often hidden landscapes; (2) Ella prompted clarification of the past and/or triggered future projective thinking; (3) Ella clarified difficult-to-teach concepts; and (4) the interface between students’ thoughts and teacher responses provided a platform of connectivity. I propose that reading well-written stories may enhance students’ clinical reasoning skills and ethical comportment within the confines of a classroom. In addition, when students are introduced to literary patients like Ella, they can dwell with the characters at a more peaceful pace which, in itself, may encourage reflectivity.
Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students Use of Emotional Intelligence in Nursing as “Caring for a Human Being”: A Mixed Methods Grounded Theory Study
Authors: Ball Lisa Sherry
Published: December 2013

Accelerated nursing students are ideal informants regarding abstract nursing concepts. How emotional intelligence (EI) is used in nursing remains a relatively elusive process that has yet to be empirically modeled. The purpose of this study was to generate a theoretical model that explains how EI is used in nursing by accelerated baccalaureate nursing students. Using a mixed methods grounded theory study design, theoretical sampling of EI scores directed sampling for individual interviews and focus groups. Caring for a human being emerged as the basic social process at the heart of which all other processes – Getting it; Being caring; The essence of professional nurse caring; Doing something to make someone feel better; and Dealing with difficulty – are interconnected. In addition to a theoretical explanation of the use of EI in nursing, this study corroborates findings from other qualitative studies in nursing and contributes a rich description of accelerated baccalaureate nursing students and an example of a mixed methods study design to the small but growing literature in these areas.
Is Modern Hebrew Standard Average European? The view from European
Authors: Zeldes Amir
Published: December 2013

Unlike previous work emphasizing European influences on Modern Hebrew as compared to the Biblical language advocated by the Hebrew revival movement, this article sets out to examine typological features of Modern Hebrew in its own right. Starting from literature on Standard Average European, I argue that Modern Hebrew differs from the European type in most features defined independently of literature on Hebrew. Notwithstanding many European influences, especially in phonology and semantics, and considerable differences to Biblical Hebrew, I will show that key structural similarities with European languages are remarkably few, and in most cases not due to the revival process.
Understanding B.F. Skinner: Building Emotional Competence in Students with Diverse Learning Needs
Authors: Banks Tachelle , Sapp Marty , Obiakor Festus E.
Published: December 2013

Not all children and youth will respond the same way to scripted interventions. Children and youth require intervention strategies that are designed to meet their wide-ranging needs in order to be successful during and after school years. Yet, educators and counselors apply behavior strategies to promote prosocial behavior without exploring whether, and to what extent, social thinking caused the behavior itself. This article provides a historical overview on behavior- and emotion-based principles and discusses implications for using strategies that are based on developmental and learning theories that recognize human variance and facilitate emotional competence.
Issues in Curriculum and Instruction for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
Authors: Hogan Kathleen , Hathcote Andrea
Published: December 2013

Teachers are being asked to educate a variety of students, including a growing number of students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds (Diaz-Rico, 2012. A course for teaching English learners. Upper Saddle River, NY: Pearson). Because students from diverse backgrounds are the fastest growing population in schools in the United States (Hoover, 2011. Response to intervention models: Curricular implications and interventions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson), it is imperative that teachers begin recognizing how to effectively educate all students. Specific issues associated with the curriculum and instruction supporting CLD students, as well as ways to improve instructional delivery, will be examined. Strategies to improve instructional delivery are presented to better meet the needs of all students, regardless of background.
Vibration of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plates under a moving load
Authors: Malekzadeh Parviz , Dehbozorgi Mojtaba , Monajjemzadeh Seyyed Majid
Published: December 2013

The vibration behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates under a moving load is investigated based on the first-order shear deformation theory of plates using the finite element method. An embedded single-walled CNT (SWCNT) in the polymer matrix and its surrounding interphase is replaced with an equivalent fiber to obtain the effective mechanical properties of the CNT/polymer composite plates using the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka micromechanical model. The equations of motion of plate elements are derived by utilizing Hamilton’s principle. Newmark’s time integration scheme is employed to discretize the equations of motion in the temporal domain. The convergence of the method is numerically demonstrated and its accuracy is shown by performing comparison studies with existing solutions for the free vibration and static analysis of FG-CNTRC plates and also the exact solution of isotropic plates under a moving load. Then, the numerical results are presented to study the effects of various profiles of the CNT distribution, which includes both symmetric and asymmetric distributions, the velocity of the moving load, and thickness-to-length and aspect ratios together with boundary conditions on the dynamic characteristic of the FG-CNTRC plate under a moving load.
Increased Carrier Volume Improves Preemergence Control of Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Zero-Tillage Seeding Systems
Authors: Borger Catherine P. D. , Riethmuller Glen P. , Ashworth Michael , Minkey David , Hashem Abul , Powles Stephen B.
Published: December 2013

PRE herbicides are less effective in the zero-tillage system because of increased residual crop stubble and reduced soil incorporation. However, since weeds are not physically controlled in the zero-tillage system, reliance on efficacy of PRE herbicides is increased. This research investigated the impact of carrier volume and droplet size on the performance of PRE herbicides (in wheat crops at four sites in 2010) to improve herbicide efficacy in conditions of high stubble biomass in zero-tillage systems. Increasing carrier volume from 30 to 150 L ha−1increased spray coverage on water-sensitive paper from an average of 5 to 32%. Average control of rigid ryegrass by trifluralin (at Cunderdin and Merredin sites) and trifluralin or pyroxasulfone (at Wickepin and Esperance sites) improved from 53 to 78% with increasing carrier volume. Use of ASABE Medium droplet size improved spray coverage compared with ASABE Extremely Coarse droplet size, but did not affect herbicide performance. It is clear that increased carrier volume improves rigid ryegrass weed control for nonwater-soluble (trifluralin) and water-soluble (pyroxasulfone) PRE herbicides. Western Australian growers often use low carrier volumes to reduce time of spray application or because sufficient high-quality water is not available, but the advantages of improved weed control justifies the use of a high carrier volume in areas of high weed density.
Effect of Annual Grass Cohort Age and Clipping on Herbicide Efficacy
Authors: Wehtje Glenn , Enloe Stephen F.
Published: December 2013

Bermudagrass is grown extensively in the southern United States as a livestock forage. Annual grass weeds can be problematic in bermudagrass hay production, few effective control measures are available. Bermudagrass hay is harvested approximately every 28 d. Because most annual grass weeds germinate whenever environmental conditions become appropriate, control options must address a target weed population that varies in age, and may or may not have been mowed during previous harvests. Cohort age has rarely been included in control studies that combine herbicides and mowing. We tested this idea in a greenhouse study. Barnyardgrass, large crabgrass, and green foxtail were seeded on a weekly schedule. The following four treatments were initiated when five cohort ages ranging 8 to 36 d were obtained: clipping only, herbicide only, clipping followed by (fb) herbicide, and a nontreated control. Time interval between clipping and herbicide application was 5 d. Plants were clipped at 5 cm above the soil surface. Herbicide application was a tank mixture of nicosulfuron + metsulfuron at 39.3 + 10.5 g ai ha−1, respectively. Shoots were harvested 21 d after the herbicide treatment, and dry weights of the first three treatments were expressed as percent biomass reduction relative to the age-equivalent nontreated control. Regression analyses indicated a similar response pattern for all three grass species within treatments. For clipping alone, biomass reduction increased as cohort age increased. Conversely for herbicide alone, biomass reduction decreased with age. However, biomass reduction with the clipping fb herbicide treatment was only nominally influenced by grass cohort age, providing ≥ 84% biomass reduction across all cohort ages and species.
Efficacy of Preemergence Herbicides for Controlling a Dinitroaniline-Resistant Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) in Georgia
Authors: McCullough Patrick E. , Yu Jialin , de Barreda Diego Gómez
Published: December 2013

Goosegrass is a problematic weed in turfgrass, and overuse of dinitroaniline (dna) herbicides has resulted in evolution of resistant populations. The objectives of this research were to (1) evaluate responses of a susceptible (S) goosegrass compared to a suspected resistant (R) biotype from Griffin, GA to prodiamine, and (2) evaluate efficacy of various PRE herbicides for control. Prodiamine rates required for 50% control and 50% shoot reductions after 6 wk for R-goosegrass measured > 13.44 and 3.2 kg ai ha−1, respectively, whereas rates for the S-population measured 0.45 and < 0.42 kg ha−1, respectively. In field experiments, sequential applications of dithiopyr and prodiamine provided < 20% control of R-goosegrass over 2 yr. Single applications of dimethenamid-P at 1.68 kg ai ha−1provided < 50% goosegrass control in 2011 but provided excellent control (≥ 90%) at 7 mo after initial treatments (MAIT) in 2012. Single and sequential applications of indaziflam provided excellent control of goosegrass in both years, and oxadiazon controlled goosegrass > 85% at 7 MAIT in 2011 and ≥ 90% in 2012. Single and sequential PRE sulfentrazone applications controlled goosegrass < 60% in 2011 but averaged 94% control in 2012. Overall, indaziflam and oxadiazon provided good (80 to 89%) to excellent control of dna-resistant goosegrass in both years, but dimethenamid and sulfentrazone were inconsistent.
Influence of Dicamba and Dicamba plus Glyphosate Combinations on the Control of Glyphosate-Resistant Waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis)
Authors: Spaunhorst Douglas J. , Bradley Kevin W.
Published: December 2013

A total of four field experiments were conducted over a 2-yr period (2011 and 2012) near Mokane and Moberly, Missouri, to determine the control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) waterhemp with dicamba and glyphosate applied alone or as a tank-mix combination. In one experiment, dicamba was applied at 0.14, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ae ha−1with or without 0.86 kg ae ha−1glyphosate to GR waterhemp plants 7.5, 15, and 30 cm in height. In a second experiment, sequential treatments of dicamba or dicamba plus glyphosate were applied 4, 7, and 14 d after the initial herbicide treatment to plants measuring either 7.5 or 23 cm in height. Control of GR waterhemp ranged from 7 to 62%, 11 to 40%, and 8 to 30% when applied to 7.5-, 15-, and 30-cm plants, respectively. Control of 7.5-cm GR waterhemp increased by 16 to 36%, and biomass reduction increased by 29 to 52% in response to 0.14, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ha−1dicamba plus glyphosate compared to these same rates of dicamba alone. When sequential dicamba-containing treatments were averaged across all treatments and application timings, GR waterhemp control ranged from 46 to 47%, and biomass reduction ranged from 55 to 66%. No differences in control were observed based on the timing of the sequential herbicide treatment. However, in terms of GR waterhemp biomass reduction, sequential treatments applied 4 d after the initial treatment reduced GR waterhemp biomass more than sequential treatments applied 14 d after the initial treatment. Results from these experiments indicate that, in the absence of crop competition, a single treatment of dicamba up to 0.56 kg ha−1provides less than 62% control of GR waterhemp, and sequential dicamba plus glyphosate treatments targeting 7.5 cm plants are required to achieve at least 72% control.
Changes in Cortical Activity During Real and Imagined Movements: an ERP Study
Authors: Machado Sergio , Arias-Carrión Oscar , Paes Flávia , Ribeiro Pedro , Cagy Mauricio , Piedade Roberto , Almada Leonardo Ferreira , Anghinah Renato , Basile Luis , Moro Maria Francesca , Orsini Marco , Silva Julio Guilherme , Silva Adriana Cardoso , Nardi1 Antonio E.
Published: December 2013

This study aims to compare the topographic distribution of cortical activation between real and imagined movement through event-related potential (ERP). We are specifically interested in identifying, the topographic distribution of activated areas, the intensity of activated areas, and the temporal occurrence of these activations on preparation and motor response phases. Twelve healthy and right handed subjects were instructed to perform a task under real and imagery conditions. The task was performed simultaneously to electroencephalographic (EEG) recording. When compared the conditions, we found a statistically significant difference in favor of real condition revealed by performing an unpaired t-test with multiple corrections of Bonferroni, demonstrating negative activity on electrode C3 and positive activity on the electrode C4 only in motor response phase. These findings revealed similar functional connections established during real and imagery conditions, suggesting that there are common neural substrate and similar properties of functional integration shared by conditions.