bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Proposed Diagnostic Classification of Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: Implications for Physical Therapists
Authors: Harrison Anne L. , Thorp Jacob N. , Ritzline Pamela D.
Published: February 2014

Synopsis

Physical therapists have an important role on the interprofessional team to provide care for people with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Diagnostic classification is a challenge in this population, given the complexities inherent in presentations of headache and orofacial pain, and is critical to selecting the appropriate intervention. The objectives of this paper were (1) to characterize the epidemiology and pathophysiology of the TMDs most commonly seen in the outpatient clinic, (2) to describe a systems screen to be used in the physical therapy examination to determine the need for interprofessional referral, and (3) to propose an approach for physical therapists to examine, evaluate, and classify patients with TMDs, based on previously validated methodologies. A modification of the diagnostic framework of the International Headache Society has provided the basis for the systems screen of people presenting with orofacial pain. The physical therapy examination and evaluation is based on the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD, developed and validated by a consortium of specialists from the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Level of Evidence

Diagnosis, level 5. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014;44(3):182–197. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.4847
Reducing the barriers against analytical epidemiological studies in investigations of local foodborne disease outbreaks in Germany – a starter kit for local health authorities
Authors: Werber D , Bernard H
Published: February 2014

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The 2012 dengue outbreak in Madeira: exploring the origins
Authors: Wilder-Smith A , Quam M , Sessions O , Rocklov J , Liu-Helmersson J , Franco L , Khan K
Published: February 2014

In 2012, Madeira reported its first major outbreak of dengue. To identify the origin of the imported dengue virus, we investigated the interconnectivity via air travel between dengue-endemic countries and Madeira, and compared available sequences against GenBank. There were 22,948 air travellers to Madeira in 2012, originating from twenty-nine dengue-endemic countries; 89.6% of these international travellers originated from Venezuela and Brazil. We developed an importation index that takes into account both travel volume and the extent of dengue incidence in the country of origin. Venezuela and Brazil had by far the highest importation indices compared with all other dengue-endemic countries. The importation index for Venezuela was twice as high as that for Brazil. When taking into account seasonality in the months preceding the onset of the Madeira outbreak, this index was even seven times higher for Venezuela than for Brazil during this time. Dengue sequencing shows that the virus responsible for the Madeira outbreak was most closely related to viruses circulating in Venezuela, Brazil and Columbia. Applying the importation index, Venezuela was identified as the most likely origin of importation of dengue virus via travellers to Madeira. We propose that the importation index is a new additional tool that can help to identify and anticipate the most probable country of origin for importation of dengue into currently non-endemic countries.
Large multistate outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis associated with frozen strawberries, Germany, 2012
Authors: Bernard H , Faber M , Wilking H , Haller S , Höhle M , Schielke A , Ducomble T , Siffczyk C , Merbecks S S , Fricke G , Hamouda O , Stark K , Werber D , on behalf of the Outbreak Investigation Team
Published: February 2014

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Fluoranthene induced changes in photosynthetic pigments, biochemical compounds and enzymatic activities in two microalgal species: Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck and Desmodesmus subspicatus Chodat
Authors: Patel Miral , Kumar JI Nirmal , Tiwari KK
Published: February 2014

The photosynthetic pigments, biochemical and enzymatic activities in two freshwater microalgal species, Chlorella vulgaris and Desmodesmus subspicatus at different fluoranthene concentrations were compared with the control conditions. During 16-days of incubation period when treated with fluoranthene, both microalgal species exhibited variable amount of photosynthetic pigment, biochemical compounds and enzymatic activities. The addition of fluoranthene at concentrations ranged from 1.5 mg l-1; to 10 mg l-1; to microalgal cultures led to changes in all different metabolites but the patterns varied from species to species. Among the two species tested, pigment, biochemical and enzymatic contents were remarkably declined from 7 % to 95% in C. vulgaris. Moreover, all metabolites in D. subspicatus also diminishing significantly by 3% to 88% of fluoranthene doses (10ppm). These results suggest that fluoranthene-induced changes of pigments, biochemical and enzymatic variations in test microalgae, D. subspicatus and C. vulgaris, might reveal its resistance and ability to metabolize PAHs. At the same time, the PAH impact changes on different metabolic activities were higher at 12 and 16 days than at 4 and 8 days in treated microalgae. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9941 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 41-55
Biological assessment of the effects of toxic metals on plant biomass production
Authors: Michael Patrick S
Published: February 2014

A significant environmental problem is the disturbance of acid sulfate soils which contain high amounts of sulfuric acid or have the potential to form it, resulting in pollution of the environment due to mobilization of toxic metals into soil and water systems. Reported in this study are two bioassay experiments carried out using wheat plants (Triticum sp.) to investigate the potential causes of a significant environmental problem experienced in a farmland. The results obtained show that availability of excessive amounts of Fe in the rhizosphere and formation of Fe-complex plagues, either acted as barriers to nutrient uptake or enhanced uptake of potentially toxic metals in excessive amounts; coupled with the presence of toxic levels of Al killed the vegetation on the farmland. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9942 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 56-67
Modulation of antioxidant defence system for detoxification of oxidative stress caused by tannery effluent in Eichhornia crassipes
Authors: Gupta Kiran
Published: February 2014

A study was performed to evaluate capability of aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes plants to combat oxidative stress caused by tannery effluent treatment. For this purpose, tannery effluent was collected from “Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket” (UASB) Jajmau, Kanpur. Plants of Eichhornia crassipes were exposed to various concentrations of tannery effluent (0.0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) for 2 and 7 days durations. Plants accumulated significant (p<0.01) amount of Cr (a major constituent of tannery effluent) in a concentration duration dependent manner; which was more in roots (220 mg g-1 dw) than in leaves (83 mg g-1 dw). Tannery effluent induced oxidative stress was evident by increased level of MDA content. To combat oxidative stress plants showed alleviated level of antioxidants as its defense mechanism. Among enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity increased over to control upto 2nd days of treatment however on exposure of long duration i.e. 7 days these antioxidants declined in correspond to various treatments. Similarly non enzymatic antioxidants (carotenoid and ascorbic acid content) which scavenged free radicals efficiently also showing elevation at all concentrations up to 2 days exposure over unstressed plants, thereafter responded in decreasing manner due to ill effects of treatments. Therefore it can be concluded, E. crassipes can be utilized as a biomonitoring as well as phytoremedial tool using aforesaid biomarkers for pollution caused by tannery effluent.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9947 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 101-110
Tree resources Of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India with especial emphasis on conservation status, phenology and economic values
Authors: Chaudhary Lal Babu , Kumar Anoop , Mishra Ashish K , Sahu Nayan , Pandey Jitendra , Behera Soumit K , Bajpai Omesh
Published: February 2014

Uttar Pradesh, one of the most populated states of India along international border of Nepal, contributes only about 3% of total forest & tree cover of the country as the major parts of the area is covered by agriculture lands and human populations. The forests are quite fragmented and facing severe anthropogenic pressure in many parts. To protect the existing biodiversity, several forest covers have been declared as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. In the present study, Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) has been selected to assess tree diversity, their phenology and economic values as the trees are the major constituent of any forest and more fascinating among all plant groups. The sanctuary consists of tropical moist deciduous type of vegetation and situated along the Indo-Nepal boarder in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, India. After, thorough assessment of the area, a list of 141 tree species belonging to 101 genera and 38 families have been prepared. The family Fabaceae exhibits highest generic and species diversity with 14 genera and 23 species. The genus Ficus of Moraceae has been found the largest with 11 species. Maximum trees with about 51 species have been found to flower in post winter season (February to March) in the forest. About 62 trees are used as medicinal for various purposes, 50 as ornamental & avenue trees, 37 as timber wood, 36 as edible, 16 as fire wood and 12 as fodder. Since the sanctuary area has been surrounded by several villages and facing anthropogenic pressure, the public awareness program related with biodiversity conservation and sustainable uses is highly needed to protect the forest covers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9949 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 122-133
Eccentric observation of total hardness in Lohara Village, Chandrapur District, Central India
Authors: Kamble RK
Published: February 2014

The potability of water is judged by its physical, chemical and biological analysis. While analysing the water quality of Chandrapur district for winter 2012, summer 2013 and post-monsoon 2013 an eccentric observation was observed for total hardness estimation from the groundwater sample of Lohara village. While performing total hardness of groundwater sample by EDTA complexomertirc titration, after addition of buffer and inhibitor solution followed by Eriochrome Black T indicator a blue colour was formed instead of wine red colour. This observation was reported from all three sampling seasons. Perhaps, this may be the first time that such an observation was reported in the scientific literature. However, calcium hardness was found to be 84 ppm as CaCO3 in all three sampling season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9950 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 134-140
Estimation of Incident Propensity for Reliability Analysis in the Highway Capacity Manual
Authors: Aghdashi Seyedbehzad , Rouphail Nagui M. , Hajbabaie Ali
Published: February 2014

This paper presents the method used to generate the incident probabilities required by the freeway scenario generator for travel time reliability analysis in the Highway Capacity Manual. The freeway scenario generator requires the estimation of monthly probabilities of different levels of incident severity during specified study periods. Incident probability in this context is the fraction of time that an incident of a specific level of severity is active somewhere on the freeway facility during the study period for the month considered. The proposed method is designed to recognize and deal with the varying levels of incident and facility data availability at the implementing agencies. A queuing model is proposed for the conversion of incident frequencies into incident probabilities when agencies have access only to frequencies instead of probabilities.
Editorial
Authors: Mom Gijs , Clarsen Georgine , Kim Nanny , Müller Dorit
Published: February 2014

What is mobility worth? What is the value of a trip? These questions have many answers, which depend on who is doing the trip, and where, for what purpose, and using which vehicle, as well as what happened before.
The Distant Sound of Mule Caravan Bells
Authors: Cunzhao Ma
Published: February 2014

Sanyi consists of two villages, a northern and a southern one. In the Republican
period (1912–1949) there was a “cauldron boss”1 in charge of the “northern
caravan” by the name of Tenth Sister, who hailed from Sanyi North. Th e
author came to the village to meet Mr Li Zhengxiong (Bai nationality, 78 years
old), a grandnephew of Tenth Sister. Th e following is Mr Li’s account:
The Sea Plane Harbor
Authors: Sahari Aaro
Published: February 2014

Lennusadam – Sea Plane Harbor
6 Vesilennuki Street, Tallinn, 10 415, Estonia
http://www.lennusadam.eu/en/
Tickets €10 for adults, €5 for students and children, €19 for families
Metal-based Drugs
Authors: Mcquitty Ruth J.
Published: February 2014

Metals have been considered for millennia to have medicinal values. With the advent of modern medicine, many metal-based drugs have proven to be highly effective in the clinic. Many different metal ions have shown activity against a range of diseases. The unique electronic structure of transition metals offers great versatility, not always seen in organic drugs, in terms of the ability to tune the properties of a given molecule. This review gives a brief overview of the most established therapeutic metals, and their more common applications, such as platinum-based anticancer drugs. New developments within the field of metallodrugs and novel strategies being employed to improve methods of delivery, are also discussed.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Antioxidants in 2013
Authors: Antioxidants Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Antioxidants would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Palaeoart at Two Million Years Ago? A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Harrod James
Published: February 2014

Current archaeological evidence supports the claim that symbolic behavior, including palaeoart, first emerged in human evolution around 1 million years ago. The purpose of this article is to review archaeological studies that might support the hypothesis that the earliest palaeoart actually is evident around 2 million years ago. This review identifies nine Oldowan artifacts that have been proposed as possible non-utilitarian and possibly symbolic behavior. Among seven stone tools, the three strongest candidates are the Olduvai Gorge, the FLK North grooved and pecked cobble, ~1.80 million years ago, and MNK Main subspheroid with hexagon shape framing an apparent natural dot-and-undulating-line motif, ~1.5–1.6 million years ago, both initially reported and described by Mary Leakey; and the curated Koobi Fora FxJj1 “broken core” with inner rhomboid shape, ~1.87 million years ago. All six stone tools from Olduvai Gorge need scientific re-examination to determine their chaîne opératoire and assess non-utilitarian features. If even one of the Olduvai Gorge artifacts were validated as symbolic behavior this would indicate the emergence of palaeoart one million years earlier than current proposals. It would also suggest that Homo habilis/rudolfensis or a very early Homo erectus had substantially more advanced cognitive, design and symbolic competencies than inferred in current theories. It would constitute a challenge to develop more advanced cognitive semiotic and art-theoretic analytical tools for illuminating the role of such palaeoart in hominin cultural evolution.
The Shell Structure Effect on the Vapor Selectivity of Monolayer-Protected Gold Nanoparticle Sensors
Authors: Huang Rui-Xuan , Lu Chia-Jung , Tian Wei-Cheng
Published: February 2014

Four types of monolayer-protected gold nanoclusters (MPCs) were synthesized and characterized as active layers of vapor sensors. An interdigitated microelectrode (IDE) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) were used to measure the electrical resistance and mass loading changes of MPC films during vapor sorption. The vapor sensing selectivity was influenced by the ligand structure of the monolayer on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The responses of MPC-coated QCM were mainly determined according to the affinity between the vapors and surface ligands of MPCs. The responses to the resistance changes of the MPC films were due to the effectiveness of the swelling when vapor was absorbed. It was observed that resistive sensitivity to polar organics could be greatly enhanced when the MPC contained ligands that contain interior polar functional groups with exterior nonpolar groups. This finding reveals that reducing interparticle attraction by using non-polar exterior groups could increase effective swelling and therefore enhance the sensitivity of MPC-coated chemiresistors.
Estimating Single-Tree Crown Biomass of Norway Spruce by Airborne Laser Scanning: A Comparison of Methods with and without the Use of Terrestrial Laser Scanning to Obtain the Ground Reference Data
Authors: Hauglin Marius , Gobakken Terje , Astrup Rasmus , Ene Liviu , Næsset Erik
Published: February 2014

Several methods to conduct single-tree inventories using airborne laser scanning (ALS) have been proposed, and even terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has recently emerged as a possible tool for the collection of forest inventory data. In the present study, a novel methodological framework for a combined use of ALS and TLS in an inventory was tested and compared to a method without the use of TLS. Single-tree Norway spruce crown biomass was predicted using an ALS-model with training data obtained by TLS. ALS and TLS data were collected for sets of sample trees, including 68 trees with both ALS and TLS data. In total, 29 destructively sampled trees were used to fit a TLS crown biomass model, which then was used to predict crown biomass in a separate set of 68 trees. This dataset was subsequently used to fit an ALS crown biomass model. When validating the model, using a separate dataset with accurately measured crown biomass obtained through destructive sampling, the mean error was 32% of the observed mean biomass. Corresponding crown biomass predictions derived with ALS-predicted diameters and the use of conventional and existing allometric models resulted in a mean error of 35%. Thus, in the present study, a slight improvement, in terms of prediction accuracy, was found when using training data with ground reference values obtained by TLS.
Family-Concentrated Ownership in Chinese PLCs: Does Ownership Concentration Always Enhance Corporate Value?
Authors: Luo Jin-Hui , Liu Heng
Published: February 2014

In this paper we investigate the relationship between family ownership structure and corporate value across a sample of 1314 firm-year observations of China’s family publicly listed companies (PLCs), from 2004 to 2008. We find a significant inverse-U-shaped relationship between the controlling family’s ultimate cash-flow rights and corporate value; as measured by Tobin’s Q. That is, as family-ownership concentration increases, corporate value first increases and then decreases. This finding refreshes our understanding of the relationship between family-ownership concentration and corporate value in emerging economies such as found in China. We corroborate prior findings that when controlling families hold excess control over cash-flow rights, corporate value is significantly lowered, while multiple large shareholders structure is significantly associated with higher corporate value. In addition; board independence is found to significantly improve corporate value in the context of family-concentrated ownership. We also test for potential endogeneity between family ownership and corporate value and find our results to be robust.
Uptake of Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit® RL) Nanoparticles by Human THP-1 Cell Line and Its Effects on Hematology and Erythrocyte Damage in Rats
Authors: Abdel-Wahhab Mosaad , Abdel-Wahhab Khaled , Mannaa Fathia , Hassan Nabila , Safar Ramia , Diab Roudayna , Foliguet Bernard , Ferrari Luc , Rihn Bertrand
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to prepare Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit RL) nanoparticles (ENPs) and to determine their properties, their uptake by the human THP-1 cell line in vitro and their effect on the hematological parameters and erythrocyte damage in rats. ENPs showed an average size of 329.0 ± 18.5 nm, a positive zeta potential value of +57.5 ± 5.47 mV and nearly spherical shape with a smooth surface. THP-1 cell lines could phagocyte ENPs after 2 h of incubation. In the in vivo study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed orally or intraperitoneally (IP) with a single dose of ENP (50 mg/kg body weight). Blood samples were collected after 4 h, 48 h, one week and three weeks for hematological and erythrocytes analysis. ENPs induced significant hematological disturbances in platelets, red blood cell (RBC) total and differential counts of white blood cells (WBCs) after 4 h, 48 h and one week. ENP increased met-Hb and Co-Hb derivatives and decreased met-Hb reductase activity. These parameters were comparable to the control after three weeks when administrated orally. It could be concluded that the route of administration has a major effect on the induction of hematological disturbances and should be considered when ENPs are applied for drug delivery systems.
Microstructure and Tensile Behavior of Laser Arc Hybrid Welded Dissimilar Al and Ti Alloys
Authors: Gao Ming , Chen Cong , Gu Yunze , Zeng Xiaoyan
Published: February 2014

Fiber laser-cold metal transfer arc hybrid welding was developed to welding-braze dissimilar Al and Ti alloys in butt configuration. Microstructure, interface properties, tensile behavior, and their relationships were investigated in detail. The results show the cross-weld tensile strength of the joints is up to 213 MPa, 95.5% of same Al weld. The optimal range of heat input for accepted joints was obtained as 83–98 J·mm−1. Within this range, the joint is stronger than 200 MPa and fractures in weld metal, or else, it becomes weaker and fractures at the intermetallic compounds (IMCs) layer. The IMCs layer of an accepted joint is usually thin and continuous, which is about 1μm-thick and only consists of TiAl2 due to fast solidification rate. However, the IMCs layer at the top corner of fusion zone/Ti substrate is easily thickened with increasing heat input. This thickened IMCs layer consists of a wide TiAl3 layer close to FZ and a thin TiAl2 layer close to Ti substrate. Furthermore, both bead shape formation and interface growth were discussed by laser-arc interaction and melt flow. Tensile behavior was summarized by interface properties.
Heat Shock Proteins: Intestinal Gatekeepers that Are Influenced by Dietary Components and the Gut Microbiota
Authors: Liu Haoyu , Dicksved Johan , Lundh Torbjörn , Lindberg Jan
Published: February 2014

Trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal tract form a diverse and intricate ecosystem with a deeply embedded symbiotic relationship with their hosts. As more detailed information on gut microbiota complexity and functional diversity accumulates, we are learning more about how diet-microbiota interactions can influence the immune system within and outside the gut and host health in general. Heat shock proteins are a set of highly conserved proteins that are present in all types of cells, from microbes to mammals. These proteins carry out crucial intracellular housekeeping functions and unexpected extracellular immuno-regulatory features in order to maintain the mucosal barrier integrity and gut homeostasis. It is becoming evident that the enteric microbiota is one of the major determinants of heat shock protein production in intestinal epithelial cells. This review will focus on the interactions between diet, gut microbiota and their role for regulating heat shock protein production and, furthermore, how these interactions influence the immune system and the integrity of the mucosal barrier.
Overcoming the Cutaneous Barrier with Microemulsions
Authors: Lopes Luciana
Published: February 2014

Microemulsions are fluid and isotropic formulations that have been widely studied as delivery systems for a variety of routes, including the skin. In spite of what the name suggests, microemulsions are nanocarriers, and their use as topical delivery systems derives from their multiple advantages compared to other dermatological formulations, such as ease of preparation, thermodynamic stability and penetration-enhancing properties. Composition, charge and internal structure have been reported as determinant factors for the modulation of drug release and cutaneous and transdermal transport. This manuscript aims at reviewing how these and other characteristics affect delivery and make microemulsions appealing for topical and transdermal administration, as well as how they can be modulated during the formulation design to improve the potential and efficacy of the final system.
Image-Based Delineation and Classification of Built Heritage Masonry
Authors: Oses Noelia , Dornaika Fadi , Moujahid Abdelmalik
Published: February 2014

Fundación Zain is developing new built heritage assessment protocols. The goal is to objectivize and standardize the analysis and decision process that leads to determining the degree of protection of built heritage in the Basque Country. The ultimate step in this objectivization and standardization effort will be the development of an information and communication technology (ICT) tool for the assessment of built heritage. This paper presents the ground work carried out to make this tool possible: the automatic, image-based delineation of stone masonry. This is a necessary first step in the development of the tool, as the built heritage that will be assessed consists of stone masonry construction, and many of the features analyzed can be characterized according to the geometry and arrangement of the stones. Much of the assessment is carried out through visual inspection. Thus, this process will be automated by applying image processing on digital images of the elements under inspection. The principal contribution of this paper is the automatic delineation the framework proposed. The other contribution is the performance evaluation of this delineation as the input to a classifier for a geometrically characterized feature of a built heritage object. The element chosen to perform this evaluation is the stone arrangement of masonry walls. The validity of the proposed framework is assessed on real images of masonry walls.
Evaluating the SEVIRI Fire Thermal Anomaly Detection Algorithm across the Central African Republic Using the MODIS Active Fire Product
Authors: Freeborn Patrick , Wooster Martin , Roberts Gareth , Xu Weidong
Published: February 2014

Satellite-based remote sensing of active fires is the only practical way to consistently and continuously monitor diurnal fluctuations in biomass burning from regional, to continental, to global scales. Failure to understand, quantify, and communicate the performance of an active fire detection algorithm, however, can lead to improper interpretations of the spatiotemporal distribution of biomass burning, and flawed estimates of fuel consumption and trace gas and aerosol emissions. This work evaluates the performance of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) Fire Thermal Anomaly (FTA) detection algorithm using seven months of active fire pixels detected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) across the Central African Republic (CAR). Results indicate that the omission rate of the SEVIRI FTA detection algorithm relative to MODIS varies spatially across the CAR, ranging from 25% in the south to 74% in the east. In the absence of confounding artifacts such as sunglint, uncertainties in the background thermal characterization, and cloud cover, the regional variation in SEVIRI’s omission rate can be attributed to a coupling between SEVIRI’s low spatial resolution detection bias (i.e., the inability to detect fires below a certain size and intensity) and a strong geographic gradient in active fire characteristics across the CAR. SEVIRI’s commission rate relative to MODIS increases from 9% when evaluated near MODIS nadir to 53% near the MODIS scene edges, indicating that SEVIRI errors of commission at the MODIS scene edges may not be false alarms but rather true fires that MODIS failed to detect as a result of larger pixel sizes at extreme MODIS scan angles. Results from this work are expected to facilitate (i) future improvements to the SEVIRI FTA detection algorithm; (ii) the assimilation of the SEVIRI and MODIS active fire products; and (iii) the potential inclusion of SEVIRI into a network of geostationary sensors designed to achieve global diurnal active fire monitoring.
Elapid Snake Venom Analyses Show the Specificity of the Peptide Composition at the Level of Genera Naja and Notechis
Authors: Munawar Aisha , Trusch Maria , Georgieva Dessislava , Hildebrand Diana , Kwiatkowski Marcel , Behnken Henning , Harder Sönke , Arni Raghuvir , Spencer Patrick , Schlüter Hartmut , Betzel Christian
Published: February 2014

Elapid snake venom is a highly valuable, but till now mainly unexplored, source of pharmacologically important peptides. We analyzed the peptide fractions with molecular masses up to 10 kDa of two elapid snake venoms—that of the African cobra, N. m. mossambica (genus Naja), and the Peninsula tiger snake, N. scutatus, from Kangaroo Island (genus Notechis). A combination of chromatographic methods was used to isolate the peptides, which were characterized by combining complimentary mass spectrometric techniques. Comparative analysis of the peptide compositions of two venoms showed specificity at the genus level. Three-finger (3-F) cytotoxins, bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs) and a bradykinin inhibitor were isolated from the Naja venom. 3-F neurotoxins, Kunitz/basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI)-type inhibitors and a natriuretic peptide were identified in the N. venom. The inhibiting activity of the peptides was confirmed in vitro with a selected array of proteases. Cytotoxin 1 (P01467) from the Naja venom might be involved in the disturbance of cellular processes by inhibiting the cell 20S-proteasome. A high degree of similarity between BPPs from elapid and viperid snake venoms was observed, suggesting that these molecules play a key role in snake venoms and also indicating that these peptides were recruited into the snake venom prior to the evolutionary divergence of the snakes.
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy and Renal Transplantation: Focus on Adverse Effects
Authors: Zaza Gianluigi , Tomei Paola , Granata Simona , Boschiero Luigino , Lupo Antonio
Published: February 2014

A series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are commonly utilized in renal transplantation as induction therapy (a period of intense immunosuppression immediately before and following the implant of the allograft), to treat steroid-resistant acute rejections, to decrease the incidence and mitigate effects of delayed graft function, and to allow immunosuppressive minimization. Additionally, in the last few years, their use has been proposed for the treatment of chronic antibody-mediated rejection, a major cause of late renal allograft loss. Although the exact mechanism of immunosuppression and allograft tolerance with any of the currently used induction agents is not completely defined, the majority of these medications are targeted against specific CD proteins on the T or B cells surface (e.g., CD3, CD25, CD52). Moreover, some of them have different mechanisms of action. In particular, eculizumab, interrupting the complement pathway, is a new promising treatment tool for acute graft complications and for post-transplant hemolytic uremic syndrome. While it is clear their utility in renal transplantation, it is also unquestionable that by using these highly potent immunosuppressive agents, the body loses much of its innate ability to mount an adequate immune response, thereby increasing the risk of severe adverse effects (e.g., infections, malignancies, haematological complications). Therefore, it is extremely important for clinicians involved in renal transplantation to know the potential side effects of monoclonal antibodies in order to plan a correct therapeutic strategy minimizing/avoiding the onset and development of severe clinical complications.
Les manifestations au Tibet du printemps 2008. Un conflit entre la nation et l’État
Authors: Barnett Robert
Published: February 2014

Une estimation préliminaire portant sur 95 des 150 manifestations ou plus, ayant eu lieu dans les zones tibétaines au printemps 2008, montre qu’elles ont été bien plus étendues que lors des phases d’agitation précédentes et qu’un plus grand nombre de laïques, de fermiers, de nomades et d’étudiants que par le passé y ont participé. Cette estimation souligne que le débat, en Chine et ailleurs, sur la représentation des manifestations a été dominé par la question de la violence aux dépens des questions liées aux politiques mises en oeuvre et aux problèmes sociaux. Cet article expose les concepts de base qui sous-tendent ce débat et résume les facteurs historiques qui auraient pu conduire aux manifestations.
Le Tibet et la Chine : l’interprétation de l’histoire depuis 1950
Authors: Sperling Elliot
Published: February 2014

Cet article analyse la façon dont l’histoire du Tibet et ses relations avec la Chine ont été interprétées et décrites en Chine depuis 1950. La Chine a longtemps prétendu que le Tibet lui avait été rattaché au XIIIe siècle, sous la dynastie des Yuan, mais de nombreux éléments démontrent que cette interprétation est une construction du XXe siècle. Une position chinoise plus dure affirme que la Chine historique correspond au territoire de la dynastie des Qing à son apogée, et que tout ce qui se trouve à l’intérieur de ces frontières a toujours fait partie de la Chine depuis les temps anciens, bien avant la période Yuan, et même avant les débuts connus de l’histoire.
Réflexion comparative sur les cinémas hongkongais et indien. Identité, diaspora et cosmopolitisme
Authors: Deprez Camille
Published: February 2014

Bien souvent, les recherches sur le cinéma asiatique contemporain se limitent aux frontières nationales, ou se situent d’emblée à l’échelle transnationale. Mais rares sont les approches comparatives. Or, depuis les années 1980, des similitudes historiques et cinématographiques entre Hongkong et l’Inde permettent, par exemple, d’élaborer un bilan autour des enjeux de déconstruction puis de reconstruction identitaire en diaspora, tels qu’ils sont abordés par une partie de la production hongkongaise et indienne. La notion de flou devient alors cruciale pour mettre ces questions en images de manière nuancée, entre tentation de repli et cosmopolitisme.
Une ombre pesant sur les démocraties étrangères: L’utilisation politique du pouvoir économique par la Chine dans ses rapports avec l’Occident
Authors: Guoguang Wu
Published: February 2014

Cet article étudie comment le succès économique chinois en arrive à avoir un impact négatif sur les libertés civiles et la démocratie en Occident et pourquoi l’interdépendance croissante entre l’économie mondiale et la Chine permet à cette dernière d’influencer les positions politiques de grandes démocraties, alors que le contraire n’est pas possible. À partir de cas concrets, il montre comment la diplomatie chinoise joue sur les relations économiques avec certaines grandes démocraties pour les amener à infléchir leur politique notamment à l’égard du dalaï-lama. Il souligne également à quel point les enjeux du marché chinois rendent les multinationales plus vulnérables aux pressions de Pékin tandis que les intérêts financiers internationaux amènent à coopérer avec un appareil répressif afin de limiter les libertés, en Chine ou ailleurs. Il défend enfin l’argument suivant lequel, avec la fin de la guerre froide, la nouvelle économie politique associée à la globalisation explique la montée en puissance d’une forme de diplomatie dictatoriale.
Les danwei religieuses. L’institutionnalisation de la religion en Chine populaire
Authors: Palmer David A.
Published: February 2014

Cet article est une étude de l’évolution de l’institutionnalisation de la religion en République populaire de Chine de 1979 à 2009, et de ses effets sur la structuration du champ religieux chinois. Un discours normatif sur la religion est constitué par un réseau de dirigeants du Parti, de cadres, d’universitaires et de chefs religieux. Les institutions religieuses officielles sont devenues des hybrides de culture religieuse avec l’habitus institutionnel des unités de travail (danwei) dans l’économie socialiste de marché. En même temps, une grande diversité de pratiques religieuses ont trouvé une légitimité sous le couvert de catégories laïques telles que la santé, la science, la culture, le tourisme, ou le patrimoine. Les autorités des affaires religieuses commencent à reconnaître l’existence de cette sphère religieuse en expansion, et d’accorder une légitimité discursive aux catégories jadis stigmatisées ou ignorées de la religion populaire et des nouvelles religions. Mais elles hésitent toujours à proposer un changement explicite de politique.
Temples et taoïstes en Chine urbaine depuis 1980
Authors: Goossaert Vincent , Fang Ling
Published: February 2014

Depuis 1980, le renouveau des temples taoïstes en milieu urbain, avec ou sans clergé en résidence, s’effectue dans deux directions divergentes. D’une part, les temples «officiels » gérés par l’Association taoïste se donnent comme vitrine d’un taoïsme moderne et proposent des services religieux aux individus ; de l’autre, des temples communautaires refondent une vie religieuse des quartiers, souvent en périphérie des villes. L’article explore les rapports complexes entre ces divers types de temples, les groupes dévots qui les visitent, et le clergé taoïste.
Femmes en milieu rural, vieillesse et activités dans les temples. Un cas d’étude dans le nord-ouest du Sichuan
Authors: Xiaofei Kang
Published: February 2014

Cet article explore les liens entre religion, genre et vieillesse dans la Chine contemporaine à travers l’étude d’un groupe de femmes âgées han en milieu rural et de leur temple communautaire dans le nord-ouest du Sichuan. Dépourvues de ressources monacales ou d’une autorité charismatique, ces femmes âgées ont transformé ce temple en un espace rituel sexué qui leur procure, ainsi qu’à leurs familles, sociabilité, confort spirituel et capital moral. Ni victimes de superstitions féodales, ni obstacles à la modernisation, elles représentent une force de transformation dynamique dans la Chine rurale contemporaine.
Filmer l’espace, cartographier le réel. Le cinéma documentaire indépendant en Chine et son rapport à l’espace
Authors: Pernin Judith
Published: February 2014

Cet article tente de rassembler et d’examiner quelques-unes des problématiques soulevées par la notion d’espace dans son rapport au Mouvement des documentaires indépendants chinois. Notre analyse porte sur la façon dont l’espace influence le choix des sujets et le mode de tournage, mais aussi sur sa représentation et la manière dont celle-ci est liée à l’émergence d’une nouvelle esthétique et pratique du documentaire.
« Ce qui m’intéresse est de montrer des personnes auxquelles je peux m’identifier ». Entretien avec Ning Ying
Authors: Wei S. Louisa , Ying Ning
Published: February 2014

Admise en 1978 à l’Institut de cinéma de Pékin, en même temps que le «noyau dur » des cinéastes chinois de la cinquième génération, Ning Ying quitte la Chine pour l’Italie en 1980, où elle termine sa formation cinématographique au Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, en 1986. Elle rentre en Chine l’année suivante et travaille d’abord comme assistante de Bertolucci sur Le Dernier Empereur (1988). Son premier film en tant que réalisatrice est Quelqu’un est tombé amoureux de moi (You ren pianpian aishang wo, 1990), un succès commercial. Elle réalise ensuite sa «trilogie pékinoise » : Zhao le, Jouer pour le plaisir (Zhao le, 1992), Ronde de flics à Pékin (Minjing gushi, 1995) et Un taxi à Pékin (Xiari nuan yangyang, 2000). Elle a reçu de nombreuses récompenses dans des festivals internationaux pour Jouer pour le plaisir et Ronde de flics, et sa représentation réaliste de la Chine contemporaine est aujourd’hui hautement appréciée. Le Chemin de fer de l’espoir (Xiwang zhi lü), documentaire tourné en 2001, a été couronné d’un Grand prix au Festival du cinéma du réel à Paris, et Perpetual Motion (Wuqiong dong ; Mouvement perpétuel), réalisé en 2005, a obtenu le prix du «Film le plus original » au Festival du film asiatique de Rome en 2006. (SLW)
Zidovudine Induces Visceral Mitochondrial Toxicity and Intra-Abdominal Fat Gain in a Rodent Model of Lipodystrophy
Authors: Walker Ulrich A , Lebrecht Dirk , Reichard Wilfried , Kirschner Janbernd , Bissé Emmanuel , Iversen Line , Venhoff Ana C , Venhoff Nils
Published: February 2014

Background

The use of zidovudine is associated with a loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). We assessed if zidovudine treatment also affects visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and if uridine supplementation abrogates the adverse effects of zidovudine on VAT.

Methods

Rats were fed zidovudine for 21 weeks with or without simultaneous uridine supplementation. Control animals did not receive zidovudine, or were treated with uridine alone. Changes in SAT and VAT were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. Adipose tissue was examined for structural and molecular signs of mitochondrial toxicity.

Results

Zidovudine induced lipoatrophy in SAT and fat hypertrophy in VAT. Compared with controls zidovudine-exposed VAT adipocytes had increased diameters, microvesicular steatosis and enlarged mitochondria with disrupted crystal architecture on electron microscopy. VAT adipocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers were diminished, as were mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain proteins. The ‘common’ mtDNA deletion was detected in high frequencies in zidovudine treated animals, but not in the controls. Although mtDNA depletion was more profound in SAT compared with VAT, the ‘common’ deletion tended to be more frequent in the VAT than in the SAT. Uridine coadministration abrogated all effects of zidovudine on VAT and SAT pathology.

Conclusions

Zidovudine induces a gain of intra-abdominal fat in association with quantitative and qualitative alterations of the mitochondrial genome and impaired expression of mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain components, indicating that zidovudine may contribute to abdominal fat hypertrophy in HIV-infected patients. In this rodent model, uridine supplementation abrogates both SAT and VAT pathology induced by zidovudine.
Suburban waterfront with ecological and recreational function: planning based on network analysis
Authors: Fumagalli Natalia , Colombo Claudia , Ferrario Paolo Stefano , Senes Giulio , Toccolini Alessandro
Published: February 2014

Urban fringe areas have multiple land uses and are places where sections of waterway, together with fragmented areas of natural vegetation, are often found passing through urban areas, transportation routes and gradually expanding rural areas. These overlapping functions are often the cause of an extremely disorderly landscape devoid of guiding connotative elements. In this context, the waterfront can be a guiding element for the redevelopment of the fringe areas between cities and the countryside. The purpose of this paper is the definition of a methodology for planning a suburban waterfront with an ecological function and bicycle paths for recreational use. The evaluation phases for resources and planning, conducted with tools for network analysis, have identified potential corridors based on current land uses and have addressed the issue of bicycle paths on an inter-municipal scale. The methodology is proposed for regional level planning and the validation of the method was achieved through its application to the stretch of the Lambro River between Monza Park and the city of Milan in the North of Italy.
Determination of the water diffusivity of horticultural substrates: comparison of different approaches for the one-step outflow data analysis
Authors: Bibbiani Carlo , Campiotti Carlo A. , Incrocci Luca , Pardossi Alberto
Published: February 2014

The improved iterative method for the simultaneous determination of the hydraulic properties of growing media from one-step experiment by Bibbiani, was performed on pure peat, pure pumice, and peat/pumice (1peat:1pumice by volume) mix, and compared with simplified equations by Valiantzas and Londra, who set up a new two-point method for calculating the water diffusivity, and with Van Genuchten- Mualem model. Brooks and Corey equations for water retention and hydraulic conductivity characterized the hydraulic properties of the porous media in relation to the iterative procedure. In the present work, the estimated water retention curves are compared with nine experimental data, and with the estimation of the Van Genuchten- Mualem model, via the RETC code, taking into account retention and diffusivity data. Bibbiani’s and Van Genuchten-Mualem’s estimations overlap except for the very wet range near saturation (R2 equals to 0.9997, 0.9999, 0.9998 for pure pumice, 1peat:1pumice mix, and pure peat respectively, for Bibbiani’s estimation; R2 equals to 0.9923, 0.9541, 0.9993 for pure pumice, 1peat:1pumice mix, and pure peat respectively, for Van Genuchten-Mualem’s estimation), whereas the Valiantzas and Londra’s procedure didn’t get satisfactory results, apparently because of different requirements related to the final pressure head applied in one-step experiment. In regard to diffusivity, a good similarity between Bibbiani’s and Van Genuchten-Mualem’s curves can be assessed, being the mean ratio values of the D(θ) from Valiantzas equation divided by D(θ) from Bibbiani equation equal to 1.20, 1.10, and 1.31 for pure pumice, 1peat:1pumice mix, and pure peat respectively, while Valiantzas and Londra’s procedure generally results in higher values. Due to the lack of estimation of the water retention curve, Valiantzas and Londra’s procedure fails to estimate the hydraulic conductivity function, whereas Bibbiani’s and Van Genuchten-Mualem’s curves match together in most cases.
Quota Sampling as an Alternative to Probability Sampling? An Experimental Study
Authors: Yang Keming , Banamah Ahmad
Published: February 2014

In spite of the establishment of probability sampling methods since the 1930s, non-probability sampling methods have remained popular among many commercial and polling agents, and they have also survived the embarrassment from a few incorrect predictions in American presidential elections. The increase of costs and the decline of response rates for administering probability samples have led some survey researchers to search for a non-probability sampling method as an alternative to probability sampling. In this study we aim to test whether results from a quota sample, believed to be the non-probability sampling method that is the closest in representativeness to probability sampling, are statistically equivalent to those from a probability sample. Further, we pay special attention to the effects of the following two factors for understanding the difference between the two sampling methods: the survey's topic and the response rate. An experimental survey on social capital was conducted in a student society in Northeast England. The results suggest that the survey topic influences who responded and that the response rate was associated with the sample means as well. For these reasons, we do not think quota sampling should be taken as an acceptable alternative to probability sampling.