bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum levels of nitrite/nitrate, lipid profile, and Fasting Plasma Glucose and their associations in subclinical hypothyroid women before and after a two month treatment by levothyroxine
Authors: Hashemi Mohammad Mostakhdem , Kosari Elahe , Mansourian Azad Reza , Marjani Abdoljalal
Published: June 2017

Background. Subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) is a condition defined by elevated TSH values with normal levels of free thyroid hormones. Altered metabolic status is one of the consequences of sHT which can affect serum levels of FPG, lipid profile, and nitric oxide which propounds cardiovascular consequences per se. The aim of this study was to determine the possible effects of sHT on nitrite/nitrate levels, as a marker of endothelial performance.

Materials and Methods. 50 females were enrolled in this study, 25 women as control group and 25 women as case group (evaluated two times: before and after levothyroxine therapy). Blood samples were collected and levels of FPG, lipid profile components, and nitric oxide were measured spectrophotometrically. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 software.

Results. The levels of lipid profile (except for TG between before and after group, p < 0.05) and nitric oxide did not differ in groups while FPG was significantly higher in case groups in comparison to control group (p < 0.001). Nitric oxide had no correlations with any of variables except for LDL in after treatment group (p < 0.05 and r = 0.397).

Conclusion. Nitric oxide does not have correlation with components of lipid profile (except for LDL) or FPG and has no differences in subclinical hypothyroid patients and control group. Levothyroxine therapy during 2 months cannot alter the levels of nitric oxide in subclinical hypothyroid patients.
Diversity of Soil Microbial Communities from an Iron Mining Area (Oued Zem, Morocco)
Authors: Mohamed Nouri , Abdelmajid Haddioui
Published: June 2017

Microbial communities in the soil were collected from 20 samples of an iron mining area (Ait Ammar, Oued Zem, Morocco), and unaffected samples were analysed to identify the effects of metal concentrations on functional diversity (Biolog® EcoPlates), and structural diversity (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA). Aliivibrio fischeri is mainly used for evaluating polluted soil. The functional diversity was assessed by using such indices as area under substrate utilisation curve, richness, Shannon- Weaver and evenness indices. The analysis of similarities and the non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses of DGGE profiles showed that metals in the soil do not have a significant influence on bacteria. Principal component analysis of Biolog data revealed the similarity in the metabolic profiles of mining samples. These results suggest that the direction and the distance from the iron mine tailings do not have significant effects on the metabolic and structural diversity of the soil bacterial population. The toxicity of metals in soils heavily contaminated with Fe and P did not affect the quantities of microbial populations and did not significantly change the microbial diversity of contaminated soils.
The flexural stiffness and tension state of basalt filter
Authors: Khalmuradovich Sattarov Laziz , Ahmedovich Kurbanov Abdirahim
Published: June 2017

In recent years, there is a growing demand in Uzbekistan for new, cheap and competitive products from local raw materials, the demand being directly connected with the expansion and development opportunities of the mining, metallurgical and processing industries. In such conditions, the need for providing a solution of the problems faced by these industries is a very urgent one and requires further comprehensive studies. One of these tasks includes assessment of the force parameters and bending stiffness of basalt fibre filters, aimed at further improving the efficiency of local basalt raw materials and aiding in the manufacture of new, long-lasting, reliable and high-quality products. In this case, we studied the interaction of basalt fibre filter with a gas or liquid medium, the deformed state of the fibres under the action force of the gas or liquid, and the filter recovery process after removal of the load, all of which occur during mechanical filtration. These tasks are of interest because during the mechanical filtration of a gas or liquid (hereinafter, mechanical filtration) from solids, all attention is paid to the quality of the filtering process. The filtering quality, as known, is determined by the degree of contamination in the liquid undergoing treatment, duration of separation of the pulp into solid and liquid phases during the decantation process of the mixture and the amount of gas/ liquid released into the atmosphere along with carbon monoxide and toxic impurities. At the same time, the state and behaviour of the filtering material remain as minor factors, the consideration of which can play a decisive role in the establishment of filter life and work capacity. Solutions to these problems are very urgent and allow one to create new technologies for the production of basalt filters based on force parameters and bending stiffness, wherein the purification occurs without the intervention of chemicals.
Variation and Stability in Female Strobili Production of a First-Generation Clonal Seed Orchard of Chinese Pine (Pinus tabuliformis)
Authors: Yuan Huwei , Li Zhexin , Fang Pan , Li Wei , Li Yue
Published: June 2017

Seed orchards of Chinese pine, Pinus tabuliformis, are in a transition period from first generation to advanced generation. During this crucial period, evaluation of seed production in seed orchards is essential. Female strobili production is an important factor in seed production. This study examined the variation and stability in female strobili production in a first-generation clonal seed orchard of Chinese pine in years 9, 10, 13, 14, 20 and 21 after grafting in 1974. The results showed significant variation in female strobili production among clones, years, and interactions between clones and years. Correlations in female strobili production between years were significant. The repeatability for female strobili production within the examined years ranged from 0.47 to 0.87. The relative stability of female strobili production varied among clones, with regression coefficients among individual clones and an environmental index ranging from 0.13 to 2.81. The productivity index in different clones ranged from -1.09 to 1.83. Yield stability of female strobili among clones could be estimated from female strobili production. Clones could be divided into three groups according to their stability and productivity parameters. The results of this research provide guidance for evaluating clones in existing seed orchards, as well as some basic information for seed orchard management and advanced-generation seed orchard establishment.
Breeding triploid aspen and poplar clones for biomass production
Authors: Ulrich Kristina , Ewald Dietrich
Published: June 2017

Enriched diploid pollen was applied for in vitro pollinations and crossbreeding in the greenhouse to produce high performance triploid aspen and aspen hybrids for cultivation in medium rotation plantations. In addition to crossings within the section Populus, intersectional crossbreeding was performed to combine benefits of intersectional hybridization with those derived from triploidisation.

Both the enrichment of diploid pollen by size fractionation of naturally unreduced pollen and heat treatment of microspore mother cells resulted in a distinct increase of diploid pollen. Using this pollen, six triploid plants were obtained from in vitro pollinations and twenty from crossbreeding in the greenhouse. The triploid plants displayed a high variability in growth performance. Two clones from in vitro pollination and five from crossbreeding in the greenhouse were chosen to estimate growth characteristics. A first assessment of clone performance in an outdoor container test con - ducted over one growing season revealed two triploid clones with a same stem height and a significantly increased basal stem diameter in comparison to the fast-growing triploid reference clone “Astria”. Crossbreeding experiments also resulted in two fast-growing mixoploid clones, which have already been stable for several years.

All in all, in this study, crossbreeding using enriched diploid pollen is proved to be a reliable and applicable approach for an effective breeding of triploid poplars.
Geographic Variation and Local Growth Superiority for Coastal Douglas-fir – Rotation-age Growth Performance in a Douglas-fir Provenance Test
Authors: Ye Terrance Z. , Jayawickrama K. J. S.
Published: June 2017

Rotation-age growth performance of 16 provenances and local growth superiority were assessed from a rotation- age reciprocal coastal Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] provenance test established in the Pacific Northwest of America. Provenance differences for total volume per plot were highly significant. Due to the significant provenance × site interaction effect, the best provenances varied across planting sites in terms of rotation-age volume growth. Local provenance trees exhibited superior volume growth at two of the six planting sites. At the remaining four sites, local provenances performed equally well as average non-local provenances. At the three low-elevation (< 460 m) sites, low-elevation provenances performed significantly better than high-elevation provenances. By contrast, high- and low-elevation provenances had similar growth at the two high-elevation (> 800 m) sites. Southern provenances generally grew faster than northern provenances at the Oregon sites, while northern provenances performed better than southern provenances at the sites in British Columbia.

Regression analyses showed that although local growth superiority increased with the geographic distance between provenance’s origin and the test site in general (r=0.47, P<0.001), it only became obvious when the geographic distance is larger than 435 km in latitude or 370 m in elevation. Significant spatial autocorrelation was found via Mantel test, and geographically or climatically closely located provenances tended to have similar rotation-age volume growth.

The results suggested that breeding zones larger than the current second-cycle zones would lead to little loss of rotation-age total volume for coastal Douglas-fir in this region.
In vitro Competition of Betula alnoides Pollens from Two Types of Habitats in a Heterogeneous Landscape in South China
Authors: Guo J. J. , Ou J. L. , Zhao Z. G. , Zeng J.
Published: June 2017

Pollens of Betula alnoides were collected in its natural forests at two types of sites with soils originated from limestone (Site L) and granite (Site G) in a heterogeneous landscape at Jingxi County, Guangxi in 2010 to 2012 to investigate whether nutritional differences between the sites influenced its pollen competition. In vitro pollen germinations were conducted separately and in pairs for these samples as well as nutrient contents of pollens and soils were measured. There was no significant difference in total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium contents of dried pollen and in efficient ones of aqueous extracts of pollens between two types of sites although the soil nutrient contents were quite different between them, and less remarkable correlation was found between these nutrient contents of soil and pollen. The results of pollen competition of B. alnoides were much diverse among three years, it seemed that pollen-pollen interaction did not depend on site type, and might vary according to genotype and/or combination of genotypes.
Altitudinal genetic variation among native Pinus patula provenances: performance in two locations, seed zone delineation and adaptation to climate change
Authors: Ruiz-Talonia L. F. , Sánchez-Vargas N. M. , Bayuelo-Jiménez J. S. , Lara-Cabrera S. I. , Sáenz-Romero Cuauhtémoc
Published: June 2017

To select the genetic source of Pinus patula Shiede and Deppe seed best adapted to different native zones for reforestation, seedlings of 12 provenances native to a selected altitudinal gradient in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, were planted on two sites at contrasting altitudes (high 3000 m above sea level (masl) and low, 2500 masl) within the species natural distribution, and tested for growth in height at age 18, 24 and 36 months. Differences among provenances and between sites showed significance (p<0.05). Seedling growth showed a climatic and altitudinal pattern, in which seedlings from populations originating in low-middle altitudes had higher growth than populations originating in high altitudes, and from the extreme low altitude limit. Results were used to delineate climatic and altitudinal seed zones for contemporary and future climate zones in the decade centered in year 2030, using the average results of six climate-emissions scenarios. The results indicate that splitting the region into four seed zones is appropriate under contemporary climate scenarios with the following altitude limits: Zone 1, from 2300 to 2500 masl; Zone 2, 2500 to 2700 masl; Zone 3, 2700 to 2900 masl and Zone 4 from 2900 to 3100 masl. The equivalence on climatic intervals was also defined for mean annual temperature, precipitation and an annual aridity index (AAI). Values of contemporary AAI occurring at a given altitude by year 2030 were determined, with results suggesting that populations should be shifted 200 to 250 m attitudinally upward, through a program of assisted migration, to realign them to the future climate for which they are adapted.
Spatial genetic structure in the very rare and species-rich Picea chihuahuana tree community (Mexico)
Authors: Quiñones-Pérez C. Z. , Simental-Rodríguez S. L. , Sáenz-Romero C. , Jaramillo-Correa J. P. , Wehenkel C.
Published: June 2017

In natural plant populations, the spatial genetic structure (SGS) is occasionally associated with evolutionary and ecological features such as the mating system, individual fitness, inbreeding depression and natural selection of the species of interest. The very rare Mexican P. chihuahuana tree community covers an area no more than 300 ha and has been the subject of several studies concerning its ecology and population genetics. The overall aim of most of these studies has been to obtain data to help design preservation and conservation strategies. However, analysis of the fine-scale SGS in this special forest tree community has not yet been conducted, which might help enrich the above mentioned conservation programs. In this study, we examined the SGS of this community, mostly formed by P. chihuahuana Martínez, Pinus strobiformis Ehrenberg ex Schlechtendah, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, and Populus tremuloides Michx, in 14 localities at both the fine and large scales, with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of evolutionary processes. We observed a non-significant autocorrelation in fine-scale SGS, suggesting that the genetic variants of all four tree species are randomly distributed in space within each sampled plot of 50 x 50 m. At the larger scale, the autocorrelation was highly significant for P. chihuahuana and P. menziesii, probably as a result of insufficient gene flow due to the extreme population isolation and small sizes. For these two species our results provided strong support for the theory of isolation by distance.
Association mapping for resin yield in Pinus roxburghii Sarg. using microsatellite markers
Authors: Rawat Anita , Barthwal S. , Ginwal H. S.
Published: June 2017

Association mapping is a method for detection of gene effects based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) that complements QTL analysis in the development of tools for molecular plant breeding. A total of 240 genotypes of Pinus roxburghii (Himalayan Chir Pine) from a natural population in Chakrata division (Tiunee range), Uttarakhand (India) were evaluated for resin yield. Based on the phenotypic data and stable resin production in consecutive years, 53 genotypes were selected after excluding the individuals with similar resin production. The selected 53 individuals were best representatives of the variation in resin yield in Chakrata population which varied between 0.25 and 8.0 kg/tree/year and were used for genotyping and association analysis using SSR markers. Out of 80 primers initially screened, a total of 19 polymorphic SSRs (11 cpSSR and 8 nSSR) were used in the study. Model based clustering using 19 polymorphic SSR markers identified five subpopulations among these genotypes. LD was evaluated using the entire population. The squared allele frequency correlation, r2 was estimated for each pair of SSR loci. The comparison wise significance (p-values) of SSR marker pairs was determined by performing 100,000 permutations. The genetic divergence ranged from 50 to 100%. The UPGMA based hierarchial clustering grouped the genotypes in accordance with their resin yield. Model based clustering suggested the existence of five subpopulations in the sample. However, the distribution of P. roxburghii genotypes into five subpopulations had no correlation with their resin yield thus ruling out the possibility of any ancestral relationship among the genotypes with similar resin yield. AMOVA suggested that the variation among P. roxburghii genotypes at the molecular level was related with the variation in resin yield and not their site of collection thus highlighting the genetic basis of the trait. LD based association analysis revealed two chloroplast SSRs Pt71936 and Pt87268 and one nuclear SSR pm09a to be in significant association with resin yield. The two associated chloroplast SSRs showed significant LD (p<0.01). One of the chloroplast SSR Pt87268 showing association with resin yield was also found to be in significant LD with the nuclear SSR pm07, further showing the probability of this marker also to be associated with resin yield.
Evaluation of the growth traits of Toxicodendron vernicifluum progeny based on their genetic groups assigned using new microsatellite markers
Authors: Hiraoka Yuichiro , Hanaoka S. , Watanabe A. , Kawahara T. , Tabata M.
Published: June 2017

Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkley is a tree species cultivated in Japan for production of Japanese lacquer. To facilitate the low-cost improvement of T. vernicifluum, we developed microsatellite markers for DNA fingerprinting and family and lineage reconstruction. Nine useful microsatellites were developed, with 3 to 23 alleles per locus and an expected heterozygosity of 0.162-0.838 based on a commercially planted population that included 783 offspring. Six clusters were detected in this population based on the Bayesian clustering method, and 93 half-sib families were identified using parentage and sibship assignment analysis based on a maximum likelihood method. Many members (40-96%) of large (≥10) half-sib families included specific clusters, and members from different families included the same clusters. The cluster effect for tree height was more significant than the half-sib family effect using a linear mixed model, although these effects were not significant for other traits (diameter at breast height and number of forked trunks). Based on the findings from pedigree reconstruction, backward selection for tree height seems possible. We discuss the direction of research for improving T. vernicifluum using our proposed approach.
Estimation of genetic parameters for height using spatial analysis in Tsuga heterophylla full-sibling family trials in British Columbia
Authors: Cappa Eduardo Pablo , Yanchuk A. D. , Cartwright C. V.
Published: June 2017

Non-spatial and spatial analyses were carried out to study the effects on genetic parameters in ten-year height growth data across two series of 10 large second-generation full-sib progeny trials of western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.] in British Columbia. To account for different and complex patterns of environmental heterogeneity, spatial single trial analyses were conducted using an individual-tree mixed model with a two-dimensional smoothing surface with tensor product of B-spline bases. The spatial single trial analysis, in all cases, showed sizeable lower Deviance Information Criterion values relative to the non-spatial analysis. Also, fitting a surface displayed a consistent reduction in the posterior mean as well as a decrease in the standard deviations of error variance, no appreciable changes in the additive variance, an increase of individual narrow-sense heritability, and accuracy of breeding values. The tensor product of cubic basis functions of B-spline based on a mixed model framework does provide a useful new alternative to model different and complex patterns of spatial variability within sites in forest genetic trials. Individual narrow-sense heritabilities estimates from the spatial single trial analyses were low (average of 0.06), but typical of this species. Estimated dominance relative to additive variances were unstable across sites (from 0.00 to 1.59). The implications of these estimations will be discussed with respect to the western hemlock genetic improvement program in British Columbia.
Fertility Variation and its Impact on Effective Population Size in Seed Stands of Tamarindus indica and Azadirachta indica
Authors: Kamalakannan R. , Varghese M. , Park J.-M. , Kwon S.-H. , Song J.-H. , Kang Kyu-Suk
Published: June 2017

Growth and reproductive traits were assessed in seed stands of two native Indian tree species Tamarindus indica and Azadirachta indica. Positive correlation between growth (height and GBH) and reproductive traits (male and female contribution) were found in both species. Fertility was estimated from the flower and fruit production of individuals. Based on the fertility variation among individuals, parental balance, femaleness index and status number (Ns) were determined. The option of equal seed collection among individuals was also considered for estimating Ns. The percentage of fertile trees was higher in the high flowering year in both species. The best male contributing individuals also showed high female contribution (fruit production). The parental contribution in seed stands showed high deviation from expectation; 20% individuals contributed about 70% of male and female gametes in both species. Femaleness index showed that female and male contribution of individual tree was more balanced in the good flowering year, compared to the poor year. Coefficient of variation in male and female fertility was higher in the low flowering year resulting in high fertility variation among individuals and low status number. In T. indica, the female contribution was less variable compared to that of male fertility whereas in A. indica the female fertility variation was higher than that of male fertility. The relative status number (Nr= Ns/N) of the stands was lower for male and female fertility compared to the combined (male and female) fertility of individual trees.
Inducing genetic variation in growth related characteristics of poplar germplasm, by producing inter-specific hybrids between P. alba and P. euphratica
Authors: Mirzaie-Nodoushan H. , Ghamari-Zare A. , Rad F. Tavousi , Yousefifard M.
Published: June 2017

Crosses were made between two Populus species to create two hybrid groups, P. alba ♀ * P. euphratica ♂ and P. euphratica ♀ * P. alba ♂. Aseptic immature hybrid seeds were first grown on MS medium. Hybrid seedlings were then acclimatized and grown in greenhouse conditions and transplanted to an experimental field. Growth related characteristics were recorded on 307 three years-old seedlings of new inter-specific hybrids of six half-sib families, in order to assess possible potentials of the two hybrid groups. Double nested analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the hybrid groups and siblings based on majority of the studied characters. The hybrid groups formed two distinct groups for some of the studied characteristics which implied maternal effects of inheritance on the traits. The first hybrid group had more but shorter and closer branches than the second group. Adaxial stomata number for the two hybrid groups varied between 4.7 to 123. Whereas, there were no such strong differences between vegetative characteristics of the two groups. The second hybrid group had a very condense layer of white fuzz on its abaxial leaf surface, inherited from its female parents. This may lead to suggest some kinds of photosynthesis and respiration functions such as leaf sub-stomatal chambers’ functions for the mentioned fuzzy trichomes of the second hybrid group and their female parental species, P. alba. In essence, 307 new divergent poplar hybrid genotypes were produced by which ecological zone of poplar species could be extended in the country as well as high yielding genotypes would be promising.
Genetic Parameters of Interspecific Hybrids of Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla Seedlings and Cuttings
Authors: Berg G. J. van den , Verryn S. D. , Chirwa P. W. , Deventer F. Van
Published: June 2017

The current E. grandis × E. urophylla hybrid breeding strategy of South Africa’s Forestry Industry is to maintain large breeding populations of both parental species in which parents are selected based on their general combining ability (GCA) estimates or predicted individual tree breeding values and are used for interspecific hybrid crosses. The hybrid material is first screened in seedling progeny trials after which superior individuals are selected and tested as clones. Although this strategy has delivered superior clones for commercial production in South Africa, it is a time consuming strategy to follow and more cost effective strategies are being investigated. In order to review the current hybrid breeding strategy, information on the genetic control of the traits of interest is needed for E. grandis × E. urophylla seedling and clonal populations. The main objectives of this study were therefore to firstly estimate genetic parameters for E. grandis × E. urophylla hybrid seedling and clonal populations; secondly to investigate the correlation between E. grandis and E. urophylla parental (GCA) or individual breeding values and their general hybridising ability (GHA); and lastly to determine the correlation between E. grandis × E. urophylla hybrid seedling ortets and their ramets.

Results of our study indicated that non-additive genetic variation explained the majority of the total genetic variation in E. grandis × E. urophylla seedling and clonal populations. Due to the pre-eminence of non-additive variance, the pure-hybrid correlations were weak, especially for clonal populations. It would therefore seem that GCA or predicted individual breeding values are not good predictors of GHA for growth performance in the observed populations. Our study also indicated a weak coefficient of correlation between the growth performance of seedling ortets and their ramets. These results suggest that: firstly a hybrid breeding strategy to capture non-additive genetic variation should be adopted; and secondly that the first phase of screening E. grandis × E. urophylla hybrid material as seedlings should be revisited.
Observation of Women Soccer Players' Physiology During a Single Season
Authors: Paulsen Kathleen M. , Butts Cory L. , McDermott Brendon P.
Published: June 2017

Paulsen, KM, Butts, CL, and McDermott, BP. Observation of women soccer players' physiology during a single season. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1702–1707, 2018—The purpose of this study was to observe heart rate (HR) responses in match settings over the course of a conference season in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer. Twenty-one female collegiate soccer players were provided a HR monitor and instructed to wear it for the duration of match play. Player positions included 6 defenders (DEF), 6 midfielders (MID), and 9 forwards (FWD). Defenders were further identified as either center defenders (CD) or outside defenders (OD). A 1-way analysis of variance was used to determine if mean HR varied between FWD, MID, and DEF. An independent t-test was used to determine if there was a difference between CD and OD HRs. The FWD, MID, and DEF did have significantly different mean HR (p ≤ 0.05), but post-hoc analysis revealed no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05). However, CD demonstrated significantly lower HRs than OD (p = 0.009). Player position, specifically in the CD and OD role, impact the intensity of exercise in match settings and may be used to specify training and conditioning sessions.
Woodland Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Conservation in an Agricultural Landscape in South Eastern Australia
Authors: Adams-Schimminger Miriam , Fifield Graham , Doran Bruce , Freudenberger David
Published: June 2017

Southern Australia has a tree crisis. The iconic and ecologically essential eucalypt trees are dying out across vast swathes of farmland that were once grassy woodlands. A century of clearing and agricultural intensification, plus the failure of these trees to self-regenerate, has led to a massive loss of wildlife habitat, particularly tree hollows that only form in large and old Eucalyptus trees. Just as importantly, this decline in trees has exposed farmers to losses of agricultural productivity. There is now a lack of shelter for livestock. Rising salty ground water is degrading pastures as this ground water is no longer being controlled by the deep roots and respiration of eucalypts. We describe the research that shows how an innovative partnership between farmers, a non-government environmental organisation, and government funding is rehabilitating entire fields to a productive and wildlife-rich woodland full of thriving eucalypts.
Grassroots vs. Big Oil
Authors: Grosse Corrie
Published: June 2017

In 2014, volunteers in Santa Barbara County, California, collected over 20,000 signatures in three weeks to qualify an anti-fracking initiative for the November election. The initiative, Measure P, met over six million dollars in opposition from oil corporations. Despite mobilizing 1,000 volunteers, the proponents of the measure failed to garner enough votes for success. Drawing on 43 in-depth interviews and participant observation with environmental groups before, during, and after the campaign, this article examines the strengths and weaknesses of grassroots organizing behind Measure P. Organizers, especially during the signature drive, successfully garnered broad-based support in the southern part of the county, an affluent and tourist-dependent area with no onshore oil drilling. Messages based on water, made more salient by California's historic drought, resonated with many residents. Yet, after qualifying for the ballot, proponents of the campaign allied with the local Democratic Party, changing their organizing practices and forestalling bipartisan support. Outreach to Latinos in all areas of the county, and particularly in the northern part, where onshore drilling takes place, was limited. Finally, the overwhelming inequality between the financial power of proponents and the oil industry influenced the outcome. Based on this case, I argue that coalition building and groundwork to develop support within all sectors of communities, especially those most dependent on fossil fuel extraction, is critical to strengthening grassroots efforts that challenge the energy status quo.
Building partnerships
Authors: Byrne Richard
Published: June 2017

Water is generally plentiful in the United Kingdom; however, there is an emerging water quality issue driven by agricultural intensification. Poor land management over generations has contributed to the degradation of upland peat deposits leading to discolouration of potable water and the loss of valuable habitats. Employing agri-environmental schemes operated by the UK Government and private Capital One water company in the North West of England is achieving water quality gains as well as landscape, conservation and habitat benefit at the same time as supporting tenant farm incomes. We describe the pressures on the uplands and how innovative partnerships are achieving sustainable change.
Air pollution impacts due to petroleum extraction in the Norwegian Sea during the ACCESS aircraft campaign
Authors: Tuccella P. , Thomas J. L. , Law K. S. , Raut J.-C. , Marelle L. , Roiger A. , Weinzierl B. , Denier van der Gon H. A. C. , Schlager H. , Onishi T.
Published: June 2017

Emissions from oil/gas extraction activities in the Arctic are already important in certain regions and may increase as global warming opens up new opportunities for industrial development. Emissions from oil/gas extraction are sources of air pollutants, but large uncertainties exist with regard to their amounts and composition. In this study, we focus on detailed investigation of emissions from oil/gas extraction in the Norwegian Sea combining measurements from the EU ACCESS aircraft campaign in July 2012 and regional chemical transport modeling. The goal is to (1) evaluate emissions from petroleum extraction activities and (2) investigate their impact on atmospheric composition over the Norwegian Sea. Numerical simulations include emissions for permanently operating offshore facilities from two datasets: the TNO-MACC inventory and emissions reported by Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA). It was necessary to additionally estimate primary aerosol emissions using reported emission factors since these emissions are not included in the inventories for our sites. Model runs with the TNO-MACC emissions are unable to reproduce observations close to the facilities. Runs using the NEA emissions more closely reproduce the observations although emissions from mobile facilities are missing from this inventory. Measured plumes suggest they are a significant source of pollutants, in particular NOx and aerosols. Sensitivities to NOx and NMVOC emissions show that, close to the platforms, O3 is sensitive to NOx emissions and is much less sensitive to NMVOC emissions. O3 destruction, via reaction with NO, dominates very close to the platforms. Far from the platforms, oil/gas facility emissions result in an average daytime O3 enhancement of +2% at the surface. Larger enhancements are predicted at noon ranging from +7% at the surface to +15% at 600 m. Black carbon is the aerosol species most strongly influenced by petroleum extraction emissions. The results highlight significant uncertainties in emissions related to petroleum extraction emissions in the Arctic.
Assessing the optimized precision of the aircraft mass balance method for measurement of urban greenhouse gas emission rates through averaging
Authors: Heimburger Alexie M. F. , Harvey Rebecca M. , Shepson Paul B. , Stirm Brian H. , Gore Chloe , Turnbull Jocelyn , Cambaliza Maria O. L. , Salmon Olivia E. , Kerlo Anna-Elodie M. , Lavoie Tegan N. , Davis Kenneth J. , Lauvaux Thomas , Karion Anna , Sweeney Colm , Brewer W. Allen , Hardesty R. Michael , Gurney Kevin R.
Published: June 2017

To effectively address climate change, aggressive mitigation policies need to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anthropogenic carbon emissions are mostly generated from urban environments, where human activities are spatially concentrated. Improvements in uncertainty determinations and precision of measurement techniques are critical to permit accurate and precise tracking of emissions changes relative to the reduction targets. As part of the INFLUX project, we quantified carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) emission rates for the city of Indianapolis by averaging results from nine aircraft-based mass balance experiments performed in November-December 2014. Our goal was to assess the achievable precision of the aircraft-based mass balance method through averaging, assuming constant CO2, CH4 and CO emissions during a three-week field campaign in late fall. The averaging method leads to an emission rate of 14,600 mol/s for CO2, assumed to be largely fossil-derived for this period of the year, and 108 mol/s for CO. The relative standard error of the mean is 17% and 16%, for CO2 and CO, respectively, at the 95% confidence level (CL), i.e. a more than 2-fold improvement from the previous estimate of ~40% for single-flight measurements for Indianapolis. For CH4, the averaged emission rate is 67 mol/s, while the standard error of the mean at 95% CL is large, i.e. ±60%. Given the results for CO2 and CO for the same flight data, we conclude that this much larger scatter in the observed CH4 emission rate is most likely due to variability of CH4 emissions, suggesting that the assumption of constant daily emissions is not correct for CH4 sources. This work shows that repeated measurements using aircraft-based mass balance methods can yield sufficient precision of the mean to inform emissions reduction efforts by detecting changes over time in urban emissions.
Endemic goitre and hypothyroidism in an adult female patient dependent on total parenteral nutrition
Authors: Pearson S , Donnellan C , Turner L , Noble E , Seejore K , Murray R D
Published: June 2017

We present the case of a thirty-year-old female patient who was referred to the endocrinology team with an enlarging goitre and biochemical hypothyroidism. She had been dependent on total parenteral nutrition for the previous six years as a result of intestinal failure thought to be caused by possible underlying mitochondrial disease. The patient also suffers from a Desmin myopathy, and at present, the exact aetiology behind her intestinal failure is not certain. The goitre was smooth and had been enlarging slowly over the previous few months. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies were found to be within normal range. Further analysis of the case showed that twelve months earlier the patients total parenteral nutrition (TPN) feed had been altered as a result of manganese toxicity. The current feeding regimen did not contain a trace element additive which had previously supplied iodine supplementation. A little detective work established that iodine content to the TPN had been reduced, the trace element additive (Additrace) was recommenced providing 1 µmol of iodine per day, equating to 130 µg of iodine. Following this change, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels returned to normal and the goitre quickly reduced in size. We present a rare case of endemic goitre and hypothyroidism in a patient receiving inadequate iodine supplementation through total parenteral nutrition.

Learning points:

Endemic goitre and hypothyroidism secondary to iodine deficiency are rare in the developed world. However, the diagnosis should be considered in the setting of a diffuse goitre and negative thyroid antibodies.

Although rare, endemic goitre should be considered in patients who present with hypothyroidism and who are dependent on total parenteral nutrition.

Treatment with levothyroxine is not required in endemic goitre as thyroid function tests generally normalise with the addition of iodine to the diet/total parenteral nutrition regimen.

Iodine supplementation at a level recommended by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) was observed to quickly normalise this patient’s thyroid function tests.
Painful ovulation in a 46,XX SRY −ve adult male with SOX9 duplication
Authors: Shankara Narayana Nandini , Kean Anne-Maree , Ewans Lisa , Ohnesorg Thomas , Ayers Katie L , Watson Geoff , Vasilaras Arthur , Sinclair Andrew H , Twigg Stephen M , Handelsman David J
Published: June 2017

46,XX disorders of sexual development (DSDs) occur rarely and result from disruptions of the genetic pathways underlying gonadal development and differentiation. We present a case of a young phenotypic male with 46,XX SRY-negative ovotesticular DSD resulting from a duplication upstream of SOX9 presenting with a painful testicular mass resulting from ovulation into an ovotestis. We present a literature review of ovulation in phenotypic men and discuss the role of SRY and SOX9 in testicular development, including the role of SOX9 upstream enhancer region duplication in female-to-male sex reversal.

Learning points:

In mammals, the early gonad is bipotent and can differentiate into either a testis or an ovary. SRY is the master switch in testis determination, responsible for differentiation of the bipotent gonad into testis.

SRY activates SOX9 gene, SOX9 as a transcription factor is the second major gene involved in male sex determination. SOX9 drives the proliferation of Sertoli cells and activates AMH/MIS repressing the ovary. SOX9 is sufficient to induce testis formation and can substitute for SRY function.

Assessing karyotype and then determination of the presence or absence of Mullerian structures are necessary serial investigations in any case of DSD, except for mixed gonadal dysgenesis identified by karyotype alone.

Treatment is ideal in a multidisciplinary setting with considerations to genetic (implications to family and reproductive recurrence risk), psychological aspects (sensitive individualized counseling including patient gender identity and preference), endocrinological (hormone replacement), surgical (cosmetic, prophylactic gonadectomy) fertility preservation and reproductive opportunities and metabolic health (cardiovascular and bones).
Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 affect the severity of Graves’ disease
Authors: Di Cerbo Alfredo , Pezzuto Federica , Di Cerbo Alessandro
Published: June 2017

Graves’ disease, the most common form of hyperthyroidism in iodine-replete countries, is associated with the presence of immunoglobulins G (IgGs) that are responsible for thyroid growth and hyperfunction. In this article, we report the unusual case of a patient with acromegaly and a severe form of Graves’ disease. Here, we address the issue concerning the role of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in influencing thyroid function. Severity of Graves’ disease is exacerbated by coexistent acromegaly and both activity indexes and symptoms and signs of Graves’ disease improve after the surgical remission of acromegaly. We also discuss by which signaling pathways GH and IGF1 may play an integrating role in regulating the function of the immune system in Graves’ disease and synergize the stimulatory activity of Graves’ IgGs.

Learning points:

Clinical observations have demonstrated an increased prevalence of euthyroid and hyperthyroid goiters in patients with acromegaly.

The coexistence of acromegaly and Graves’ disease is a very unusual event, the prevalence being <1%.

Previous in vitro studies have showed that IGF1 synergizes the TSH-induced thyroid cell growth-activating pathways independent of TSH/cAMP/PKA cascade.

We report the first case of a severe form of Graves’ disease associated with acromegaly and show that surgical remission of acromegaly leads to a better control of symptoms of Graves’ disease.
La situación de drogodependencia y la respuesta del sistema penal y penitenciario español
Authors: Valmaia Ochaita Silvia
Published: June 2017

La situación de drogodependencia genera respuestas en el sistema penal y penitenciario, de la misma manera que se producen en otros ámbitos sociales. El tratamiento de los delincuentes toxicómanos, y el análisis de las consecuencias jurídicas que encontramos relacionadas, o derivadas, de tal condición, se contemplan en el presente estudio desde la perspectiva del impacto que suponen en la individualización de la pena, y de las necesidades específicas que se plantean en el momento y durante el cumplimiento de la misma. Por una parte podemos observar que en el ordenamiento penal esta situación de drogodependencia puede producir efectos en cuanto a la culpabilidad del sujeto, y consecuencias en relación con la ejecución de la pena. De otra, dentro del sistema penitenciario, el tratamiento socio-sanitario del delincuente toxicómano ha ido buscando la efectividad a lo largo de los últimos años, al tiempo que se ha ido prescindiendo de algunos prejuicios a la hora de abordar la cuestión. Para conseguirlo han sido necesarias una de las legislaciones penitenciarias más modernas y respetuosa con los derechos del penado, una actuación decidida y eficaz de la Administración penitenciaria, y algunas interesantes y controvertidas resoluciones judiciales.
La elección directa de parlamentarios andinos
Authors: Blanco Alvarado Ruth Carolina
Published: June 2017

En un mundo globalizado los procesos de integración vienen tomando cada día más fuerza; lo que implica mayor participación democrática de los actores políticos y sociales, situación que todavía no se evidencia en el Proceso de Integración Andino y que aspira lograrse mediante la consolidación de las elecciones directas y universales de parlamentarios andinos.
El Parlamento Andino está llamado a convertirse en la columna vertebral del proceso de integración en suramericana. Por lo tanto, es indispensable que los países miembros de la Comunidad Andina (CAN), respalden mediante la elección directa, la consolidación y legitimación del órgano representante de los ciudadanos andinos en el contexto supranacional
La ratio decidendi en el derecho colombiano
Authors: Urrea Yhomny
Published: June 2017

¿Cómo se puede construir la ratio decidendi de una sentencia judicial? El escrito propone una metodología de lectura de sentencias individuales en Colombia a partir de la discusión de las tesis del profesor Diego López Medina sobre el origen y función de la ratio decidendi. Se describe, en primer lugar, las tesis tradicional y constructivista de la ratio señaladas por López. Después de que es objetada la base de esta distinción –la distinción entre hechos y derechos- se examina, en segundo lugar, tres definiciones de ratio decidendi. Ante sus consecuencias indeseables se propone, finalmente, un concepto de ratio decidendi desarrollado para los tipos de sentencias producidas por la Corte Constitucional.
LA ESPECULACIÓN FINANCIERA COMO DELITO CONTRA LA HUMANIDAD. FUNDAMENTOS EN LA HISTORIA DE LA ECONOMÍA
Authors: Garcia Neumann Jaime
Published: June 2017

Como lo muestra la historia de la economía, los procesos especulativos suelen conducir a crisis económicas. En el mundo globalizado actual, sus consecuencias afectan el trabajo productivo y la vida de millones de personas en numerosos países, lo que constituye una violación de sus derechos humanos básicos. Es hora de regular a nivel internacional tales procesos y de eliminar de la actividad financiera sus prácticas perjudiciales. En este trabajo presentamos un paralelo entre la crisis de 1929 y la crisis que estalló en 2007, que sigue afectando grandes sectores del mundo. Estudiamos sus orígenes y la relación entre la última crisis con dos hechos: la desregularización neoliberal de los años 70 y el proceso de creciente financiarización de las economías. También, la magnitud de la actual burbuja especulativa y las instituciones y actividades que la alimentan. Concluimos con las propuestas de solución que actualmente se discuten, semejantes a las que tomó en su momento el presidente F. D. Roosevelt. La especulación financiera puede y debe ser declarada delito contra la humanidad.
LA RESPONSABILIDAD DEL ESTADO Y DE LOS JUECES EN COLOMBIA Y EN ESPAÑA, A LA LUZ DE LOS PRINCIPIOS DEL CÓDIGO IBEROAMERICANO DE ÉTICA JUDICIAL
Authors: Duque Ayala Corina
Published: June 2017

El propósito de esta disertación es presentar los avances en Colombia respecto de la responsabilidad objetiva del Estado por hechos de la administración de justicia y la posibilidad de repetir contra sus magistrados y jueces por error judicial, o como consecuencia de un fallo inhibitorios o absolutorio, aún en aplicación del principio indubio pro reo. Así mismo, se destacarán los avances jurisprudenciales, doctrinales y legislativos, del mismo tema en España. Ambos contextos geográficos se estudian a la luz de los principios plasmados en el Código Iberoamericano de Ética judicial, específicamente en lo relacionado con el principio de la Independencia y autonomía de los jueces, como corolario de un Estado democrático y de derecho.