bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow cytometric detection of circulating platelet-derived microparticles in healthy adult horses
Authors: Springer Nora L. , Smith Eliza , Brooks Marjory B. , Stokol Tracy
Published: September 2014

Objective—To develop a flow cytometric assay to quantify platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) in equine whole blood and plasma.

Sample—Citrate-anticoagulated whole blood from 30 healthy adult horses.

Procedures—Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) was prepared from fresh whole blood by sequential low-speed centrifugation (twice at 2,500 × g). Samples of fresh whole blood and PPP were removed and stored at 4° and 24°C for 24 hours. Platelet-derived microparticles were characterized in fresh and stored samples on the basis of the forward scatter threshold (log forward scatter < 101) and labeling with annexin V (indicating externalized phosphatidylserine) and CD61 (a constitutive platelet receptor). A fluorescent bead–calibrated flow cytometric assay was used to determine microparticle counts. Platelet counts, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were measured in fresh samples.

Results—Significantly more PMPs were detected in fresh whole blood (median, 3,062 PMPs/μL; range, 954 to 13,531 PMPs/μL) than in fresh PPP (median, 247 PMPs/μL; range, 104 to 918 PMPs/μL). Storage at either temperature had no significant effect on PMP counts for whole blood or PPP. No significant correlation was observed between PMP counts and platelet counts in fresh whole blood or PPP or between PMP counts and clotting times in fresh PPP.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that the described PMP protocol can be readily used to quantify PMPs in equine blood and plasma via flow cytometry. Quantification can be performed in fresh PPP or whole blood or samples stored refrigerated or at room temperature for 24 hours.
Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin sodium after subcutaneous administration to Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni)
Authors: Nardini Giordano , Barbarossa Andrea , Dall'Occo Andrea , Di Girolamo Nicola , Cagnardi Petra , Magnone William , Bielli Mattia , Roncada Paola , Zaghini Anna
Published: September 2014

Objective—To determine the pharmacokinetics of cefovecin sodium after SC administration to Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).

Animals—23 healthy adult Hermann's tortoises (15 males and 8 females).

Procedures—Cefovecin (8.0 mg/kg) was injected once in the subcutis of the neck region of Hermann's tortoises, and blood samples were obtained at predetermined time points. Plasma cefovecin concentrations were measured via ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with a noncompartmental model. Plasma protein concentration was quantified, and the percentage of cefovecin bound to protein was estimated with a centrifugation technique.

Results—Cefovecin was absorbed rapidly, reaching maximum plasma concentrations between 35 minutes and 2 hours after administration, with the exception of 1 group, in which it was reached after 4 hours. The mean ± SD time to maximum concentration was 1.22 ± 1.14 hours; area under the concentration-time curve was 220.35 ± 36.18 h•μg/mL The mean protein-bound fraction of cefovecin ranged from 41.3% to 47.5%. No adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of a single dose of cefovecin SC appeared to be well-tolerated in this population of tortoises. Results of pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that the 2-week dosing interval suggested for dogs and cats cannot be considered effective in tortoises; however, further research is needed to determine therapeutic concentrations of the drug and appropriate dose ranges.
Collection and characterization of semen from Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammostola rosea)
Authors: Archibald Kate E. , Minter Larry J. , Lewbart Gregory A. , Bailey C. Scott
Published: September 2014

Objective—To establish a nonterminal semen collection method for use in captive Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammostola rosea) and to evaluate tools for investigating morphology and viability of spermatozoa.

Animals—7 mature male Chilean rose tarantulas.

Procedures—Each tarantula was anesthetized in a 500-mL induction chamber containing a cotton ball infused with 2 mL of isoflurane. Semen collection was performed by applying direct pressure to the palpal bulbs (sperm storage organs) located on the distal segment of the palpal limbs. Morphology of spermatozoa was examined by light microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Propidium iodide and a fluorescent membrane-permeant nucleic acid dye were used to evaluate cell viability.

Results—Semen was collected successfully from all 7 tarantulas. Microscopic examination of semen samples revealed coenospermia (spherical capsules [mean ± SD diameter, 10.3 ± 1.6 μm] containing many nonmotile sperm cells [mean number of sperm cells/capsule, 18.5 ± 3.8]). Individual spermatozoa were characterized by a spiral-shaped cell body (mean length, 16.7 ± 1.4 μm; mean anterior diameter, 1.5 ± 0.14 μm). Each spermatozoon had no apparent flagellar structure. The fluorescent stains identified some viable sperm cells in the semen samples.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The described technique allowed simple and repeatable collection of semen from Chilean rose tarantulas. Semen from this species was characterized by numerous spherical capsules containing many nonmotile spermatozoa in an apparently quiescent state. Fluorescent staining to distinguish live from dead spermatozoa appeared to be a useful tool for semen evaluation in this species.
Frames, Windows, and Mirrors. Sensing Still Bodies in Films by Manoel de Oliveira
Authors: Király Hajnal
Published: September 2014

In the case of Oliveira’s Doomed Love (Amor de Perdição, 1978) (an adaptation of the homonymous classic Portuguese novel), Bresson’s model theory provides an adequate theoretical model for a melodrama in which characters, ‘hit by fate,’ are following their destinies as if ‘under hypnosis.’ Besides a typically frontal, iconic representation of bodies thoroughly framed by windows, doors, and mirrors, in this and many other films by Oliveira, the intermedial figure of tableau vivant also reveals the movement-stillness mechanisms of the medium of film by turning, under our eyes, the body into a picture. His Abraham’s Valley (Vale Abraão, 1993) is also relevant for a fetishistic representation of (female) feet and legs. This visual detail, somewhat reminding of Buñuel’s similar obsession, is not only subversive in terms of representation of socio-cultural taboos, but is also providing a compelling sensual experience of both the body and the medium.
‘Own Deaths’ – Figures of the Sensable in Péter Nádas’s Book and Péter Forgács’s Film
Authors: Sándor Katalin
Published: September 2014

The paper examines the figures of ‘sensable’ intermediality in Péter Nádas’s book, Own Death (2006), an autobiographical account of the author’s heart failure and clinical death and in the screen adaptation of the book by Péter Forgács with the same title (Own Death, 2007). The book and the film problematize the cultural, discursive, and medial (un)representability of a liminal corporeal experience (illness, death) in which the very conditions of self-perception, bodily sensation, and conceptual thinking appear as “other.” In the film corporeal liminality and its medial translatability are not only thematized (e.g. through the untranslated German word umkippen ‘tip over,’ ‘fall over’), but shape the embodied experience of viewing through the use of photo-filmic imagery, still frames, fragmented close-ups, slow motion, or medially textured images. These do not only foreground the foreign, undomesticable experience of the body and “own death” as other, but also expose the medium, the membrane of the film, and confer the moving image a “haptic visuality” (Marks). The haptic imagery directs the viewer’s attention to the sensuality of the medium, to the filmic “body,” enabling a “sensable” (Oosterling) spectatorship, an embodied reflection on the image, on the “sensual mode” (Pethő) of becoming intermedial
The Sensation of Time in Ingmar Bergman’s Poetics of Bodies and Minds
Authors: Pezzetti Fabio
Published: September 2014

Bergman’s cinema does more than just focus on a personal reflection of the body as an emotive and emotional vector; his cinema, through the transitory fragility of the human body as represented by his actors, defines the possibilities of a perceptive horizon in which the experience of passing time becomes tangible. Even though the Swedish director’s entire opus is traversed by this reflection, it is particularly evident in the films he made during the 1960s, in which the “room-sized” dimension of the sets permits a higher concentration of space and time. In this “concentration,” in this claustrophobic dimension in which Bergman forces his characters to exist, there is an often inflammable accumulation of affections and emotions searching for release through human contact which is often frustrated, denied, and/or impossible. This situation creates characters who act according to solipsistic directives, in whom physiological and mental traits are fused together, and the notion of phenomenological reality is cancelled out and supplanted by aspects of dreamlike hallucinations, phantasmagorical creations, and psychic drifting. Starting from Hour of the Wolf, this essay highlights the process through which, by fixing in images the physicality of his characters’ sensations, Bergman defines a complex temporal horizon, in which the phenomenological dimension of the linear passage of time merges with, and often turns into, a subjective perception of passing time, creating a synchretic relationship between the quantitative time of the action and the qualitative time of the sensation.
An Olfactory Cinema: Smelling Perfume
Authors: Jiaying Sim
Published: September 2014

While technological improvements from the era of silent movies to that of sound cinema have altered and continued to affect audience’s cinematic experiences, the question is not so much how technology has increased possibility of a sensory response to cinema, rather, it is one that exposes how such technological changes only underscore the participation of our senses and the body in one’s experience of watching film, highlighting the inherently sensorial nature of the cinematic experience. This paper aims to address the above question through an olfactory cinema, by close analysis of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) by Tom Tykwer. What is an olfactory cinema, and how can such an approach better our understanding of sensorial aspects found within a cinema that ostensibly favours audio-visual senses? What can we benefit from an olfactory cinema? Perhaps, it is through an olfactory cinema that one may begin to embrace the sensual quality of cinema that has been overshadowed by the naturalized ways of experiencing films solely with our eyes and ears, so much so that we desensitize ourselves to the role our senses play in cinematic experiences altogether
See, Seeing, Seen, Saw: A Phenomenology of Ultra-Violent Cinema
Authors: Downes Sarah
Published: September 2014

Vivian Sobchack claims in Carnal Thoughts that human bodies are continually remade by the “technologies of photography, cinema, and the electronic media” (2004, 135). One such sphere of contemporary media that continuously redefines the notion of the human body is horror cinema. The recent advent of so-called ‘gorenography,’ spearheaded by James Wan and Leigh Whannel’s Saw (2004), issues conceptual and philosophical challenges to the presentation and conceptualization of the phenomenal body. Following in the scope of frameworks advanced by both Sobchack and Jennifer Barker this paper aims to explore how the body of the Saw series is constructed and how it emulates both the conceptualized bodies of its viewers and the state of modern information flow in a technological age. It will be argued that the Saw series not only recognises viewers’ enjoyment of its genre conventions but also acknowledges and manipulates their engagement with the film as a phenomenological object through which a sense of re-embodiment can be enacted
Embodied Genetics in Science-Fiction, Big-Budget to Low-Budget: from Jeunet’s Alien: Resurrection (1997) to Piccinini’s Workshop (2011)
Authors: Virginás Andrea
Published: September 2014

The article uses and revises to some extent Vivian Sobchack’s categorization of (basically) American science-fiction output as “optimistic big-budget,” “wondrous middle-ground” and “pessimistic low-budget” seen as such in relation to what Sobchack calls the “double view” of alien beings in filmic diegesis (Screening Space, 2001). The argument is advanced that based on how diegetic encounters are constructed between “genetically classical” human agents and beings only partially “genetically classical” and/or human (due to genetic diseases, mutations, splicing, and cloning), we may differentiate between various methods of visualization (nicknamed “the museum,” “the lookalike,” and “incest”) that are correlated to Sobchack’s mentioned categories, while also displaying changes in tone. Possibilities of revision appear thanks to the later timeframe (the late 1990s/2000s) and the different national-canonical belongings (American, Icelandic-German- Danish, Hungarian-German, Canadian-French-American, and Australian) that characterize filmic and artistic examples chosen for analysis as compared to Sobchack’s work in Screening Space.1
‘In Drag’: Performativity and Authenticity in Zadie Smith’s "NW"
Authors: Pérez Zapata Beatriz
Published: September 2014

Zadie Smith’s latest novel, NW, presents a multiverse in chich multiplicity is driven into homogeneization by the forces of those dominant discourses that attempt to suppress the category of the “Other.” This paper focuses on the development of the two female protagonists. Their opposing attitudes towards motherhood, together with their confrontation with their origins, bring to the fore the performativity found in the discourses of gender, sexuality, class, and race. Thus, this paper will explore authenticity and performativity in a contemporary context, where patriarchal and neocolonial discourses still apply.
Female Cross-Dressing in Chinese Literature Classics and their English Versions
Authors: Wing Bo Tso Anna
Published: September 2014

Cross-dressing, as a cultural practice, suggests gender ambiguity and allows freedom of self expression. Yet, it may also serve to reaffirm ideological stereotypes and the binary distinctions between male and female, masculine and feminine, homosexual and heterosexual. To explore the nature and function of cross-dressing in Chinese and Western cultures, this paper analyzes the portrayals of cross-dressing heroines in two Chinese stories:《木蘭辭》 The Ballad of Mulan (500–600 A.D.), and 《梁山伯與祝英台》The Butterfly Lovers (850–880 A.D.). Distorted representations in the English translated texts are also explored.
Development of Psychological Preparation Program for Football Referees: Pilot Study
Authors: Blumenstein Boris , Orbach Iris
Published: September 2014

Successful football referees should have an excellent ability to cope with competitive stress. Therefore, psychological preparation is a necessary component for improving referees’ professionalism and optimal performance. This paper focuses on two main objectives: (1) Developing a Psychological Preparation Program specifically for football referees; (2) Evaluating referees’ behavior in precompetitive routine and during a football match before and after exposure to the Psychological Preparation Program. Thirty football referees participated in a newly developed Psychological Preparation Program which included three parts: Educational (i.e., lectures and self-evaluation), Acquisition (i.e., individual meetings and development of preperformance routine), and Evaluation (i.e., self-evaluation and assessing referee’s activities during a match). As a result of the program and based on referees’ self-evaluation, it can be concluded that our Psychological Preparation Program has a positive impact on the self-confidence of referees and their ability to cope with competitive stress. Future directions and suggested topics are discussed.
The Ecosystem Approach in military operations: no security without ecological security, no stability without sustainability
Authors: Janssen Kim , Wit Piet
Published: September 2014

This paper describes a recently developed training module on the “ecosystem approach”, with the military as target group. Initiated by NATO-affiliated Civil-Military Co-operation Centre of Excellence (CIMIC COE), the module fits into a multidisciplinary new training approach, in which the military learns to integrate specific concepts into their missions, such as environmental issues. In developing the training module, a combination of the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques has been formed into a stepwise approach for military to enable them to quickly scan and analyse important environmental issues in their mission environments. The result of the training module is an instructive publication and an attached instruction card, the latter being a tool commonly used by military
Comparison of selected Nordic stand growth models for Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch
Authors: Andreassen Kjell , Øyen Bernt-Håvard
Published: September 2014

Thirteen Nordic stand growth models have been validated by use of a test data set from long-term research plots in Norway. The evaluated data was from time-series of even-aged, pure stands of Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch (silver birch and downy birch). In selected models from Finland, Norway and Sweden measures of site productivity, mean tree size and various stand characteristics are represented. Different models display both strengths and weaknesses in their predicting ability. Several measures of precision and bias have been calculated and the models are ranked due to their performance. We observed site quality, stand density and average tree size as the three main components in the models. Basal area increment model for spruce from Sweden had the lowest standard deviation with 23%. The mean R2 between residuals and stand characteristics from this model was also low (1.3%), which indicates that independent variables are well included. For Scots pine and birch, Finnish volume increment models showed the best fit to the Norwegian test data, with a R2 between residuals and stand characteristics of 2.8 and 6.7%, respectively. Several of the models from Sweden and Finland predicted the growth as well as stand models frequently in use in Norway. The results indicated that similar forest conditions and traditional even-aged forest management practice in the Nordic countries could be seen as a suitable basis for developing a joint family of growth models. By careful recalibration of existing models, a reasonable accuracy could be achieved and the prediction bias could be reduced.
Timberline tree-ring statistics examined through chronology stripping
Authors: Timonen Mauri , Mielikäinen Kari , Helama Samuli
Published: September 2014

Tree-ring data is commonly used in forest science and dendrochronology. As the collected datasets represent restricted populations of theoretical infinite sample size, an interesting question deals with the sample selection that is carried out during the fieldwork and through the data analyses. This paper considers the latter issue, by statistically examining a recently completed Scots pine dataset of timberline tree-rings from Lapland (northern Finland). Following the detrending of individual ring-width series, the composition of the data was restricted using a pre-determined criteria of linear correlativity between the individual sample series and the master chronology (Rmaster). This procedure reduced both the number of sites and the sample size (i.e. the number of individual tree-ring series) and altered the tree-ring statistics of the remaining subset of the data in a systematic fashion. It was seen that the first-order autocorrelation, mean sensitivity and standard deviation all ascended with the uplifted Rmaster criterion. Conspicuously, such filtering also reduced the correlation between the resulting tree-ring chronology and climate parameter. The results indicated that the screening of the data will alter the chronology statistics in a way that may be artificially generated, irrelative to the predetermined sample selection criteria. We remain to assume that the most fundamental selection of data is attained through the cross-dating process.
The influence of common property rights on forest management policy: a case study in Sardinia region, Italy
Authors: Paletto Alessandro , De Meo Isabella , Ferretti Fabrizio
Published: September 2014

The property rights and the type of ownership (private owners, public domain and commons) are two fundamental concepts in relationship to the local development and to the social and environmental sustainability. Common forests were established in Europe since the Middle Ages, but over the centuries the importance of commons changed in parallel with economic and social changes. In recent decades, the scientific debate focused on the forest management efficiency and sustainability of this type of ownership in comparison to the public and private property. In Italy common forests have a long tradition with substantial differences in the result of historical evolution in various regions. In Sardinia region the private forests are 377.297 ha, the public forests are 201.324 ha, while around 120.000 ha are commons. The respect of the common rights changed in the different historical periods. Today, the common lands are managed directly by municipalities or indirectly through third parties, in both cases the involvement of members of community is very low. The main objective of the paper is to analyse forest management differences in public institutions with and without common property rights. To achieve the objective of the research the forest management preferences of community members and managers were evaluated and compared. The analysis was realized through the use of the principal-agent model and it has been tested in a case study in Sardinia region (Arci-Grighine district). The analysis of the results showed that the categories of actors considered (members of community, municipalities and managers) have a marked productive profile, but municipalities manage forests perceiving a moderate multifunctionality. Moreover, the representatives of the municipalities pay more attention to the interests of the collectivity in comparison to the external managers. They also attribute high importance to environmental and social forest functions.
A pilot development of virtual stimuli depicting affective dispositions for penile plethysmography assessment of sex offenders
Authors: Dennis Elissa , Rouleau Joanne-Lucine , Renaud Patrice , Nolet Kévin , Saumur Chantal
Published: September 2014

There are concerns regarding the reliability, realism, and validity of stimulus materials used in the assessment of sexual interests among sex offenders. This article explores new stimulus materials for use with penile plethysmography (PPG) assessments. First, this paper presents a pilot study where undergraduate students rated virtual characters (male and female) on perceived age. In addition, the materials developed are unique in that they depict the characters exhibiting varying affective dispositions, including neutral, fearful, sad, joyful, and seductive. Participants in the first study were also asked to identify the affective disposition of the virtual characters, and results suggest that affective disposition was largely perceived as intended, especially in terms of identifying the general emotional valence of the affective dispositions (i.e., positive versus negative). In a second pilot study, we used the computer-generated images to measure sexual arousal responses in a group of non-deviant males recruited in the community. Responses measured through penile plethysmography suggest participants responded to the stimuli as expected, as the greatest amount of sexual arousal was recorded when participants were shown the adult female character. In addition, participants responded with significant arousal only when the adult female character was depicted as sexually open (joyful or seductive), rather than sexually closed or neutral. Results suggest these materials may discriminate sexual interests if applied within clinical forensic assessment of sex offenders.
Fatimid Library: History, Development and Management
Authors: Akmam Nakhlu Zatul , Shamsuzzoha ATM
Published: September 2014

In demand of time Muslim library has been initiated from the very beginning of Islam like the ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Roman libraries. With the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (Sm.) a new epoch was started in the field of knowledge and science in Islam. From that very day with the appearance of Prophet (Sm.) the beginning of Islamic civilization get impetus and many institutions were established in the Muslim countries and renowned intellectuals and scholars of different fields were associated with those institutions. After this, when the Muslims came closer to the Persian literature and Greek sciences the Islamic library started its journey in the 7th century. So, for the acquisition of knowledge Muslim library has been initiated at Baghdad and later on Muslim Spain and Africa. In this process, as a strong opponent of the Abbasids the Fatimid rulers made tremendous steps in the field of establishing library and library management. As a strong opponent of the Abbasid the Fatimid established royal library and various public libraries. Various important functions such as, collection of books, preservation system, translation, cataloguing, inclusion and clarification of the books were practices in those libraries. Besides these, recruitment, promotion, management of archives and modern system of budgeting were also salient features of their library management. The current research is a humble attempt to find out the functioning, evolution and analyzing of the Fatimid royal, private and public libraries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbayr.v2i1.20538 Journal of the Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers (JBAYR): Vol.2(1), 2012 & 2013: 21-32
Impact of Foreign Aid in the Economic Development of Recipient Country
Authors: Murshed Mustafa , Khanaum Mosammat Mustari
Published: September 2014

No abstract available.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbayr.v2i1.20539 Journal of the Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers (JBAYR): Vol.2(1), 2012 & 2013: 33-37
Nonlinearities in Elliptic Curve Authentication
Authors: Alsaedi Ramzi , Constantinescu Nicolae , Rādulescu Vicenţiu
Published: September 2014

In order to construct the border solutions for nonsupersingular elliptic curve equations, some common used models need to be adapted from linear treated cases for use in particular nonlinear cases. There are some approaches that conclude with these solutions. Optimization in this area means finding the majority of points on the elliptic curve and minimizing the time to compute the solution in contrast with the necessary time to compute the inverse solution. We can compute the positive solution of PDE (partial differential equation) like oscillations of f(s)/s around the principal eigenvalue λ1 of -Δ in H 0 1 (Ω).Translating mathematics into cryptographic applications will be relevant in everyday life, where in there are situations in which two parts that communicate need a third part to confirm this process. For example, if two persons want to agree on something they need an impartial person to confirm this agreement, like a notary. This third part does not influence in anyway the communication process. It is just a witness to the agreement. We present a system where the communicating parties do not authenticate one another. Each party authenticates itself to a third part who also sends the keys for the encryption/decryption process. Another advantage of such a system is that if someone (sender) wants to transmit messages to more than one person (receivers), he needs only one authentication, unlike the classic systems where he would need to authenticate himself to each receiver. We propose an authentication method based on zero-knowledge and elliptic curves.
Correction: Rees, S. and Curtis, R. National Deployment of Domestic Geothermal Heat Pump Technology: Observations on the UK Experience 1995–2013. Energies 2014, 7, 5460–5499
Authors: Rees Simor , Curtis Robin
Published: September 2014

We have found the following error in the publishing history of this article which was recently published in Energies [1].[...]
Triethanolamine Stabilization of Methotrexate-β-Cyclodextrin Interactions in Ternary Complexes
Authors: Barbosa Jahamunna , Zoppi Ariana , Quevedo Mario , De Melo Polyanne , De Medeiros Arthur , Streck Letícia , De Oliveira Alice , Fernandes-Pedrosa Matheus , Longhi Marcela , Da Silva-Júnior Arnóbio
Published: September 2014

The interaction of methotrexate (MTX) with beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) was investigated with the aim to elucidate the mechanism whereby self-assembly cyclodextrin systems work in association with this third component. Solubility diagram studies showed synergic increment of the MTX solubility to be about thirty-fold. Experiments using 2D ROESY and molecular modeling studies revealed the inclusion of aromatic ring III of the drug into β-CD cavity, in which TEA contributes by intensifying MTX interaction with β-CD and stabilizes MTX:β-CD:TEA ternary complex by electrostatic interaction. The maintenance of these interactions in solid phase was also studied in ternary MTX:β-CD:TEA and comparisons were made with freeze dried binary MTX:β-CD and physical mixtures. FTIR studies evidenced that MTX–β-CD interaction remained in solid ternary complexes, which was also supported by thermal (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG)/first derivative of TG analysis (DTG) and C,N,H elementary analysis) and structural (X-ray diffraction analysis, (XRD)) studies, mainly regarding the increment of drug stability. The efficient in vitro drug dissolution studies successfully demonstrated the contribution of ternary complexes, which highlights the importance of this possible new raw material for further applications in drug delivery systems.
Defining Molecular Sensors to Assess Long-Term Effects of Pesticides on Carcinogenesis
Authors: L'Héritier Fanny , Marques Maud , Fauteux Myriam , Gaudreau Luc
Published: September 2014

The abundance of dioxins and dioxin-like pollutants has massively increased in the environment due to human activity. These chemicals are particularly persistent and accumulate in the food chain, which raises major concerns regarding long-term exposure to human health. Most dioxin-like pollutants activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transcription factor, which regulates xenobiotic metabolism enzymes that belong to the cytochrome P450 1A family (that includes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1). Importantly, a crosstalk exists between estrogen receptor α (ERα) and AhR. More specifically, ERα represses the expression of the CYP1A1 gene, which encodes an enzyme that converts 17β-estradiol into 2-hydroxyestradiol. However, (ERα) does not repress the CYP1B1 gene, which encodes an enzyme that converts 17β-estradiol into 4-hydroxyestradiol, one of the most genotoxic estrogen metabolites. In this review, we discuss how chronic exposure to xenobiotic chemicals, such as pesticides, might affect the expression of genes regulated by the AhR–ERα crosstalk. Here, we focus on recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms that mediate this crosstalk repression, and particularly on how ERα represses the AhR target gene CYP1A1, and could subsequently promote breast cancer. Finally, we propose that genes implicated in this crosstalk could constitute important biomarkers to assess long-term effects of pesticides on human health.
Chromatin Structure and Dynamics in Hot Environments: Architectural Proteins and DNA Topoisomerases of Thermophilic Archaea
Authors: Visone Valeria , Vettone Antonella , Serpe Mario , Valenti Anna , Perugino Giuseppe , Rossi Mosè , Ciaramella Maria
Published: September 2014

In all organisms of the three living domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eucarya) chromosome-associated proteins play a key role in genome functional organization. They not only compact and shape the genome structure, but also regulate its dynamics, which is essential to allow complex genome functions. Elucidation of chromatin composition and regulation is a critical issue in biology, because of the intimate connection of chromatin with all the essential information processes (transcription, replication, recombination, and repair). Chromatin proteins include architectural proteins and DNA topoisomerases, which regulate genome structure and remodelling at two hierarchical levels. This review is focussed on architectural proteins and topoisomerases from hyperthermophilic Archaea. In these organisms, which live at high environmental temperature (>80 °C <113 °C), chromatin proteins and modulation of the DNA secondary structure are concerned with the problem of DNA stabilization against heat denaturation while maintaining its metabolic activity.
Frontiers of Energy Storage and Conversion
Authors: Chen Jiajun , Thangadurai Venkataraman
Published: September 2014

This special issue of Inorganics features a Forum for novel materials and approaches for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Diminishing non-renewable fossil fuels and the resulting unattainability of environment have made us search new sustainable energy resources and develop technology for efficient utilization of such resources. Green energy sources, such as solar, hydroelectric, thermal and wind energy are partially replacing fossil fuels as means to generate power. Inorganic (solid state) materials are key in the development of advanced devices for the efficient storage and conversion of energy. The grand challenge facing the inorganic chemist is to discover, design rationally and utilize advanced technological materials made from earth-abound elements for these energy storage and conversion processes. Recent spectacular progress in inorganic materials synthesis, characterization, and computational screening has greatly advanced this field, which drove us to edit this issue to provide a window to view the development of this field for the community. This special issue comprises research articles, which highlights some of the most recent advances in new materials for energy storage and conversion. [...]
Overview on Biological Activities and Molecular Characteristics of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Marine Green Algae in Recent Years
Authors: Wang Lingchong , Wang Xiangyu , Wu Hao , Liu Rui
Published: September 2014

Among the three main divisions of marine macroalgae (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta), marine green algae are valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive compounds and remain largely unexploited in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical areas. Recently, a great deal of interest has been developed to isolate novel sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from marine green algae because of their numerous health beneficial effects. Green seaweeds are known to synthesize large quantities of SPs and are well established sources of these particularly interesting molecules such as ulvans from Ulva and Enteromorpha, sulfated rhamnans from Monostroma, sulfated arabinogalactans from Codium, sulfated galacotans from Caulerpa, and some special sulfated mannans from different species. These SPs exhibit many beneficial biological activities such as anticoagulant, antiviral, antioxidative, antitumor, immunomodulating, antihyperlipidemic and antihepatotoxic activities. Therefore, marine algae derived SPs have great potential for further development as healthy food and medical products. The present review focuses on SPs derived from marine green algae and presents an overview of the recent progress of determinations of their structural types and biological activities, especially their potential health benefits.
Chronic Toxicity Study of Neosaxitoxin in Rats
Authors: Zepeda Ramiro , Candiracci Manila , Lobos Nicolas , Lux Sebastian , Miranda Hugo
Published: September 2014

Neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX) is a specific reversible blocker of voltage gated sodium channels on excitable cells. In the last decade, it has been tested in a number of interesting clinical trials, however there is still little information available on mammalian toxicity. Rats were treated for 12 weeks with doses of 1, 3 or 6 μg/kg of subcutaneous NeoSTX. At weeks 12 and 17, animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Organs were harvested for weight determination and histopathological assessments. The lowest acute toxicity via the intraperitoneal (ip) route was (30.35 μg/kg) and there was no significant difference between intramuscular and subcutaneous routes (11.4 and 12.41 μg/kg). The NeoSTX adiministration did not produce lethality at week 12 and after five weeks of suspension. NeoSTX 6 μg/kg ip produced reductions (p < 0.05) in body weight and food intake, and increased blood level of total and direct bilirubin, GGT and SGOT at week 12; all of these were reversed in the recovery period. NeoSTX 1 and 3 μg/kg ip did not show significant changes with the control group. Histopathological presentations were normal in all groups. This study revealed that NeoSTX is safe in vivo, giving a reliable security margin for its use like a local anesthetic.
Aplysin Sensitizes Cancer Cells to TRAIL by Suppressing P38 MAPK/Survivin Pathway
Authors: Liu Jia , Ma Leina , Wu Ning , Liu Ge , Zheng Lanhong , Lin Xiukun
Published: September 2014

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a tumor-selective apoptosis inducer and has been shown to be promising for treating various types of cancers. However, the application of TRAIL is greatly impeded by the resistance of cancer cells to its action. Studies show that overexpression of some critical pro-survival proteins, such as survivin, is responsible for TRAIL resistance. In this study, we found that Aplysin, a brominated compound from marine organisms, was able to restore the sensitivity of cancer cells to TRAIL both in vitro and in vivo. Aplysin was found to enhance the tumor-suppressing capacity of TRAIL on several TRAIL-resistant cancer cell lines. TRAIL-induced apoptosis was also potentiated in A549 and MCF7 cells treated with Aplysin. Survivin downregulation was identified as a mechanism by which Aplysin-mediated TRAIL sensitization of cancer cells. Furthermore, the activation of p38 MAPK was revealed in Aplysin-treated cancer cells, and its inhibitor SB203580 was able to abrogate the promoting effect of Aplysin on the response of cancer cells to TRAIL action, as evidenced by restored survivin expression, elevated cell survival and reduced apoptotic rates. In conclusion, we provided evidence that Aplysin acts as a sensitizer for TRAIL and its effect on p38 MAPK/survivin pathway may partially account for this activity. Considering its low cytotoxicity to normal cells, Aplysin may be a promising agent for cancer treatment in combination with TRAIL.
Stepping toward a Macaque Model of HIV-1 Induced AIDS
Authors: Kimata Jason
Published: September 2014

HIV-1 exhibits a narrow host range, hindering the development of a robust animal model of pathogenesis. Past studies have demonstrated that the restricted host range of HIV-1 may be largely due to the inability of the virus to antagonize and evade effector molecules of the interferon response in other species. They have also guided the engineering of HIV-1 clones that can replicate in CD4 T-cells of Asian macaque species. However, while replication of these viruses in macaque hosts is persistent, it has been limited and without progression to AIDS. In a new study, Hatziioannou et al., demonstrate for the first time that adapted macaque-tropic HIV-1 can persistently replicate at high levels in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina), but only if CD8 T-cells are depleted at the time of inoculation. The infection causes rapid disease and recapitulates several aspects of AIDS in humans. Additionally, the virus undergoes genetic changes to further escape innate immunity in association with disease progression. Here, the importance of these findings is discussed, as they relate to pathogenesis and model development.
The Ins and Outs of Viral Infection: Keystone Meeting Review
Authors: Bird Sara , Kirkegaard Karla , Agbandje-McKenna Mavis , Freed Eric
Published: September 2014

Newly observed mechanisms for viral entry, assembly, and exit are challenging our current understanding of the replication cycle of different viruses. To address and better understand these mechanisms, a Keystone Symposium was organized in the snowy mountains of Colorado (“The Ins and Outs of Viral Infection: Entry, Assembly, Exit, and Spread”; 30 March–4 April 2014, Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado, organized by Karla Kirkegaard, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, and Eric O. Freed). The meeting served to bring together cell biologists, structural biologists, geneticists, and scientists expert in viral pathogenesis to discuss emerging mechanisms of viral ins and outs. The conference was organized around different phases of the viral replication cycle, including cell entry, viral assembly and post-assembly maturation, virus structure, cell exit, and virus spread. This review aims to highlight important topics and themes that emerged during the conference.
Wideband Absorbance in Young Infants (0‐6 months): A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Aithal Sreedevi , Kei Joseph , Driscoll Carlie
Published: September 2014

Background:Wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) studies on infants have shown changes in WAI measures with age. These changes are attributed, at least in part, to developmental effects. However, developmental effects in young infants (0‐6 mo) on WAI have not been systematically
investigated.Purpose:The objective of this study was to compare wideband absorbance (WBA) in healthy neonates and infants aged 1, 2, 4, and 6 mo.Research Design:This was a prospective cross-sectional study. All participants were assessed by using 1-kHz tympanometry, distortion
product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests, and WBA tests.Study Sample:Participants included 35 newborns (35 ears), 16 infants aged 1 mo (29 ears), 16 infants aged 2 mo (29 ears), 15 infants aged 4 mo (28 ears), and 14 infants aged 6 mo (27 ears). For each participant, the ears that
passed both high-frequency (1-kHz) tympanometry and DPOAE tests were included for analysis.Data Collection and Analysis:WBA was recorded at ambient pressure conditions, and the response consisted of 16 data points at 1/3-octave frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz. A mixed-model analysis
of variance (ANOVA) was applied to the data in each age group to evaluate the effects of sex, ear, and frequency on WBA. WBA was compared between various age groups. In addition, a separate mixed-model ANOVA was applied to WBA data, and post hoc analyses with the Bonferroni correction were
performed at each of the 16 data points at 1/3-octave frequencies across age groups to examine the effect of age on WBA.Results:For all age groups, WBA was highest between 1.5 and 5 kHz and lowest at frequencies of less than 1.5 kHz and greater than 5 kHz. A developmental trend was
evident, with both the 0- and 6-mo-old infants being significantly different from other age groups at most frequencies. The WBA results exhibited a multipeaked pattern for infants aged 0 to 2 mo, whereas a single broad peaked pattern for 4- and 6-mo-old infants was observed. The difference
in WBA between 0- and 6-mo-old infants was statistically significant across most frequencies. In contrast, the WBA results for 1- and 2-mo-old infants were comparable. There were no significant sex or ear effects on WBA for all age groups.Conclusions:Developmental effects of WBA were
evident for infants during the first 6 mo of life. The WBA data can be used as a reference for detecting disorders in the sound-conductive pathways (outer and middle ear) in young infants. Further development of age-specific normative WBA data in young infants is warranted.
THE POSSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT ZB GIS DATABASE UPDATE USING OBJECT-BASED IMAGE ANALYSIS IN ECOGNITION DEVELOPER SOFTWARE
Authors: Harcinikova Tatiana , Stankova Hana
Published: September 2014

The process of updating a spatial database is a necessary part of database management in order to keep the stored information of an acceptable quality. The first step of database update requires change detection. Many methods have been suggested to detect changes, mostly pixel-based. Recently, with the spread of very high resolution images and object-based image analysis, object-based methods were developed, too. This article presents object-based change detection method for update of the vector database ZB GIS, that is a geometric base of the Slovak National infrastructure of spatial information, using orthophoto of the area of interest. The method stages include the following: segmentation of orthophoto using the geometry of database objects and further according to spectral and spatial information, classification according to ZB GISR, defining reclassification rules between two classes. The proposed method was tested in two localities – Malženice (agricultural landscape) and Chopok-Jasna (mountainous landscape) reaching the overall accuracy of classification 87.12% and 84.55%, respectively. The main limitation of the method is that it can be applied only for polygonal objects.
La consultation en vue du synode sur la famille dans le contexte de l'évangélisation
Authors: Feillet Bruno
Published: September 2014

La consultation qui prépare le synode romain sur la famille est inédite : les questions posées vont engager une perte de maîtrise. Elle se situe dans la droite ligne de Vatican II. Plusieurs thèmes peuvent déjà être listés : transmission des valeurs et sens du mariage chrétien, régulation des naissances, divorcés remariés. Sur quelle théologie du mariage pouvons-nous nous appuyer aujourd’hui ? Par exemple, quant à la liberté de l’engagement. La Bible représente une véritable « révolution copernicienne » sur le mariage. Sur le thème de la régulation des naissances, le dialogue reprend peu à peu entre pasteurs et laïcs suite à Humanae Vitae . En prédication, il est peu question de ce sujet sur lequel une parole courageuse et engagée n’est pas facile. La distinction entre loi de gradualité et gradualité de la loi nous est utile. La pratique de la confession à la suite d’Alphonse de Liguori aussi. La principale souffrance exprimée dans le questionnaire concerne les divorcés remariés. Sur ce point l’embarras de l’Eglise est évident jusqu’à Rome où les cardinaux se divisent quant à un éventuel assouplissement de la discipline. Certains écueils sont à éviter absolument : séparer le Christ de l’Eglise ou désarticuler les sacrements. Enfin, plusieurs autres questions sur la famille mériteraient d’être traitées à Rome lors du synode : violences familiales, autres formes d’union choisies par nos contemporains comme le concubinage ou le Pacs, etc.
L'islam(isme) de marché : joindre le rentable économique au satisfecit apostolique ?
Authors: Seniguer Haouès
Published: September 2014

Tariq Ramadan intervient aussi bien au sein de l’UOIF qu’au sein d’organisations locales moins connues. Néanmoins sa présence en France se fait plus rare ces derniers temps. Ceci ne veut pas dire que son influence décline. Il bénéficie, par exemple, du soutien du Collectif des Musulmans de France. L’aspect « prédicateur idéologique » du personnage est de notoriété publique, mais on passe souvent sous silence le côté managérial et entrepreunarial de T. Ramadan, ce qui n’a rien d’étonnant : il existe aussi un marché religieux des musulmans de France. Les deux logiques coexistent.